Money is Important.......Sort of
Article by: Nikisha Thompson
Money is the reason why 99.9% of people in this world get jobs, so it has to be important right? Well it is to an extent. Money is important because it offers freedom. It gives you the opportunity to live the type of lifestyle you want and allows you to satisfy your needs. If you have the option to make more or less money, 10 times out of 10 you will choose to make more. So in that aspect, yes, money is important. It's necessary for survival and the more you have, the better you can survive.
So why do I say that money is sort of important? Because it should not be the driving force in your decision-making process. Choosing a career based on the income potential is very dangerous. If the career happens to be your passion, then congratualtions! You should be in good shape. However, if you are like most people who have lukewarm feelings about many high-paying careers, you will end up miserable. I repeat, you will end up miserable.
In the beginning, the freedom and purchasing power that comes with a higher paying career will bring you a false sense of happiness. Eventually equilibrium will set in. The costs of maintaining your lifestyle will increase to match your income. You will get a nicer car, bigger house, more expensive clothes, and eat at fancier restaurants. This will become the norm for your life and you will get used to your lifestyle. The thrill and the excitement that you felt when you got your first paycheck will no longer be there after one or two years.
You don't want to realize one or two years after you have experienced a better lifestyle that you really hate your job. Remember, the thrill that money brings is temporary, but you will have to spend anywhere from 1500 to 2500 hours a year working in that position. That is a lot of time to spend doing something that does not make you happy.
A question that I am asked often is "If I am intersted in a career that does not have very high income potential, am I doomed to be broke all of my life?" My answer to this is ABSOLUTELY NOT! You will just have to be more creative when designing your career. If you are interested in education and are not satisifed with teaching salary in your state, start your own school or education program. The possibilities in any field are endless. You can visit our Dream Job Ideas page or the Entrepreneur's Corner for more inspiration. Entrepreneur.com is one of the best sites available for finding business ideas and startup guides. Just remember, you are not limited! The most important thing is to love what you do and the money will definitely follow.