🤨 Why they always needed more money...

📘 Short Story #1: Running Blind on the Treadmill

There was a man in the book ‘What Got You Here Won’t Get You There’ who said something many entrepreneurs say.

“I have to work very hard to make money.”

The author asked a simple question. “Why?”

The man got quiet.

Then the author pushed again. “Why do you need so much money?”

Answer: Three divorces.

Lawyers. Settlements. Three support payments every month.

Then came the real question. “Why did you get divorced?”

Silence…and then...

“I worked too much.”

So the loop was this.

Work too much. Lose the marriage. Pay for the divorce. Now need more money. So work even more.

Hard work is not the problem. Lack of awareness around the work is.

Forcing you to keep running on the mindless treadmill…going fast nowhere…

The task at hand is to notice the loop Before it costs you again.

Let’s move to the second parable before we wrap it up.

📘 Short Story #2: The Mexican Fisherman and the Harvard MBA

An American MBA visits a small Mexican fishing village.

He meets a fisherman and makes small talk about his daily routine…

The fisherman’s said:

I fish a little in the morning.
Go home.
Nap with my wife.
Play with my kids.
Drink wine.
Play guitar with friends.

The MBA is shocked.

He says:

“I am a Harvard MBA and I can really help you.”

“You need to fish more.
Hire workers.
Raise debt and buy more boats.
Build a fleet.
Create a company.
Export globally.
Move to New York.
Do an IPO.
You’ll then be making millions.”

The fisherman asks:
“And then what?”

The MBA says:
“Then you can retire.
Live in a small village.
Fish a little.
Nap with your wife.
Play with your (grand)kids.
Drink wine.
Play guitar.”

The fisherman smiled. 🙂

The MBA optimized for growth and status.
The fisherman optimized for life.

🎯Lesson

I hope the lesson you drew from the stories above was NOT that pursuit of wealth is evil, that you should immediately discard your business goals, and retire to a monastery.

If one is alive, you are bound to act.

The lesson here is to bring Intention before Action.

As a business owner, be intentional about Why you are in business.

What you are seeking to get out of business ownership.

Money? Freedom? Fulfillment?

…and then build the business around it.

The How will follow.

Many of us have limiting beliefs…such as,

It can be either Fitness OR Business…(‘I can’t focus on fitness right now because I’m building my startup for an exit.’)…

It can be either Business OR Family…(‘I’ll spend time with family on weekends…let me grind it out on weekdays.’)

…and yet there are countless who are running successful businesses while being deeply committed to their health, family, contribution to society, and whatever else is important to them.

Leaving you with a question to ponder on…

Imagine you have made all the money in the world, what would you do next?

Travel? Write? Volunteer? Prioritize your health? Play sports more often?

Why can’t you do that today?

What is stopping you?

(hint: may be the person in the mirror)

Power to you,

Think Team 🙏

(P.S. - If you liked this newsletter, share it with a friend)