Ask HN: How do you regain motivation after achieving financial success?
44 comments
"Motivation for what?" is the question. If you've got enough money, properly invested, such that you don't need another job, then, this is not the question you should be asking. Ask yourself "What is the thing I would most like to be doing now?" and "What could I be doing now that would have the most impact?"
These are both kind of vague questions, but that's because you have to answer them for yourself. If the answers are the same, then you have a goal to work for that will probably motivate you quite well. If the answers are different, then you can decide based on whatever feels best for you.
You might also consider posting in some of the FIRE-related forums, particularly on Reddit. There are some good resources there, not the least of which is the community of people who can tell you how they approached questions like this in their lives.
These are both kind of vague questions, but that's because you have to answer them for yourself. If the answers are the same, then you have a goal to work for that will probably motivate you quite well. If the answers are different, then you can decide based on whatever feels best for you.
You might also consider posting in some of the FIRE-related forums, particularly on Reddit. There are some good resources there, not the least of which is the community of people who can tell you how they approached questions like this in their lives.
What is a FIRE-related forum ( and an example if possible ) ?
Financially Independent, Retire Early is FIRE
An example would be https://reddit.com/r/FinancialIndependence (as always Reddit is hit or miss, take it with a grain of salt please)
An example would be https://reddit.com/r/FinancialIndependence (as always Reddit is hit or miss, take it with a grain of salt please)
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Search for what brings you satisfaction. Maybe its some obscure scientific stuff, some weird compiler work or something as simple as beer brewing or gardening. Experiment, hack, enjoy the process. Try a lot of things and find what you are passionate about. Not necessarily one thing, switch often and return to previously dropped things. You are in wonderful position to explore all interesting things in life without worrying about finances.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Designing_Your_Life
> The New York Times best-selling book was published in 2016 by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group and utilizes a series of exercises throughout its eleven chapters in order to provide others with a sense of structure in their lives. These creative and thought provoking exercises allow the reader to reflect on their life and determine what they should do with their future. They can then generate a road map and plan how to accomplish their goals.
The book is largely geared towards working people but I think it’s actually more relevant if you have the freedom to do anything you want. Figure out what you want to be doing and motivation will follow.
> The New York Times best-selling book was published in 2016 by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group and utilizes a series of exercises throughout its eleven chapters in order to provide others with a sense of structure in their lives. These creative and thought provoking exercises allow the reader to reflect on their life and determine what they should do with their future. They can then generate a road map and plan how to accomplish their goals.
The book is largely geared towards working people but I think it’s actually more relevant if you have the freedom to do anything you want. Figure out what you want to be doing and motivation will follow.
This may some like I am over-simplifying it, but if you don't need to work either for financial or ambition reasons, do something else. Learn something, make something. Volunteer. Found a non-profit to try to help out a cause you believe in. Go study a topic that interests you. If you don't have any interests, start reading about all varieties of things until something sparks an interest.
I'm losing motivation, but I'm not successful. I can't wait until I am successful enough to quit. If you're that successful, then I'd say you should quit and pursue other interests such as hobbies or a healthy lifestyle change.
You may find motivation to advise startups and give your input with respect to certain situations, problems, bottlenecks, product, contracts, deals, roadmaps, etc.
For example, you say you have been lucky at a few startups. The common position here, even for early employees, is that they will see no financial benefit from the company unless they're the founders. How can people be as 'lucky' as you were?
There are way more examples of people being burned and seeing no return than there are examples of people who have been 'lucky', and having gone through it multiple times, you may know things others don't.
My point is, you probably have knowledge that could be helpful to others. You could chime in the several Ask HN threads, or write blog posts, etc.
It would help others avoid some mistakes and amortize the mistakes you've made and what you learned from them by trial and error. For example, sometimes I'll put a reply with a bunch of links to other replies on a topic[0].
- [0]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25025253
For example, you say you have been lucky at a few startups. The common position here, even for early employees, is that they will see no financial benefit from the company unless they're the founders. How can people be as 'lucky' as you were?
There are way more examples of people being burned and seeing no return than there are examples of people who have been 'lucky', and having gone through it multiple times, you may know things others don't.
My point is, you probably have knowledge that could be helpful to others. You could chime in the several Ask HN threads, or write blog posts, etc.
It would help others avoid some mistakes and amortize the mistakes you've made and what you learned from them by trial and error. For example, sometimes I'll put a reply with a bunch of links to other replies on a topic[0].
- [0]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25025253
Why would you want to find the motivation to "develop a career" if you neither have to nor have the motivation for it? You are free to do what fulfills you, makes you happy.
Personally, I'm a Basketball coach for 8-12 yo kids twice a week. I wish I could devote more resources towards it, since it truly is the most rewarding experience I have on a day-to-day basis, but a man's gotta pay the bills.
Personally, I'm a Basketball coach for 8-12 yo kids twice a week. I wish I could devote more resources towards it, since it truly is the most rewarding experience I have on a day-to-day basis, but a man's gotta pay the bills.
Don't force motivation on you. It won't work that way. If you reached FIRE, it is best time to enjoy every moment.
Motivation will come eventually.
Mostly because of insecurities we keep telling ourselves to work hard else you will be left behind. Truth is, even you become successful (in traditional sense), you will not take anything with you after death. Once you take away idea of staying motivated, you will start doing whatever you like. You can find happiness in simple things like waking up in morning, driking a glass of water or cup of coffee.
See how Feyman tackeled burn out. (Burn out doesn't mean working hard and not getting results. It is a successive feeling of not adding any value to your life)
https://www.mymoneyblog.com/richard-feynman-fighting-burnout...
This video might help you. Please watch till end.
https://youtu.be/7sH41GWY0CU?t=71
Mostly because of insecurities we keep telling ourselves to work hard else you will be left behind. Truth is, even you become successful (in traditional sense), you will not take anything with you after death. Once you take away idea of staying motivated, you will start doing whatever you like. You can find happiness in simple things like waking up in morning, driking a glass of water or cup of coffee.
See how Feyman tackeled burn out. (Burn out doesn't mean working hard and not getting results. It is a successive feeling of not adding any value to your life)
https://www.mymoneyblog.com/richard-feynman-fighting-burnout...
This video might help you. Please watch till end.
https://youtu.be/7sH41GWY0CU?t=71
Plant tulips in the rain. But don't write poetry.
https://www.brainpickings.org/2013/08/09/charles-bukowski-re...
https://www.brainpickings.org/2013/08/09/charles-bukowski-re...
Why do you feel the need to chase what other people consider success? Live life on your own terms.
Help other people. Volunteer for causes. Explore philosophy.
You're a free man. Use what you have wisely.
Have a family.
You're a free man. Use what you have wisely.
Have a family.
Maybe an odd suggestion, but: get a physical, blue-collar job. Work in a restaurant kitchen, on a fishing boat, as a logger, etc. If you don't want to go that far, work on a similar project at home: build a house, grow a garden, learn to weld, and so on.
The physicality of such jobs will make you appreciate and regain a sense of "real" work using your body, without all the information economy knowledge work stuff crammed in. People aren't just heads with bodies attached. Recommended books along this line of thought:
- Shop Class as Soulcraft
- Anything by Kerouac (he worked various odd jobs)
- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
The physicality of such jobs will make you appreciate and regain a sense of "real" work using your body, without all the information economy knowledge work stuff crammed in. People aren't just heads with bodies attached. Recommended books along this line of thought:
- Shop Class as Soulcraft
- Anything by Kerouac (he worked various odd jobs)
- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
There are lots fun things in life. I suppose I had a similar feelings at the beginning of the year but then in March or early April I started to see for the first time the company I’ve built and run for the last 10 years losing momentum and this really caused me to re evaluate my life for many years I focused on “this time next year x bigger” but for me at the start of the year x had become big enough and so with the prospect it maybe stalling I decide it was time to finally put my 4 year old 3D printer to good use and actually learn electronics. A neat thing happened business started growing again and I feel much better. I still have some down days but I feel like solving issues with the business is more fun and spending nights soldering and printing designs has been a great way to separate from the extreme stress for running a business... I think in my opinion you should find a hobby and start a new business ... it really is not about the money it’s about the problem and that wonderful high from solving it (ok it’s never solved but today it’s a little more solved then yesterday)
[edit] or buy a sail boat that could be a lot of fun
[edit] or buy a sail boat that could be a lot of fun
If I were in that situation I would look to develop a career around the craft of programming rather than money.
So I’d look to work somewhere they are engineering driven and here is opportunity to work on really technically interesting work.
By having your own money salary is a non issue. If the interesting job is 20k Euros in Berlin or even equity only then you could do it.
Another thing I’d consider is to do a PhD.
So I’d look to work somewhere they are engineering driven and here is opportunity to work on really technically interesting work.
By having your own money salary is a non issue. If the interesting job is 20k Euros in Berlin or even equity only then you could do it.
Another thing I’d consider is to do a PhD.
Think about why you succeeded in the first place.
Sure, you got lucky, and I believe there's such a thing, but you probably also worked hard on something you believed in and developed the skills you needed to succeed.
Think about why you did that, was it ONLY to become wealthy, or was there something else? Didn't you also do it because you HAD to, because it was THERE and you wanted to see it become real?
Drift about a bit, enjoy life and don't worry about stuff.. Follow what seems interesting, if that's nothing, then don't follow anything for a while and wait until something comes around that needs doing.
I've often been asked why I didn't patent FinalKey or made it into a company.. If I don't regret that because maybe I could have become wealthy. My answer is always the same: I was done with it and I had no interest in continuing it, something more interesting had come along.
Think about why you did that, was it ONLY to become wealthy, or was there something else? Didn't you also do it because you HAD to, because it was THERE and you wanted to see it become real?
Drift about a bit, enjoy life and don't worry about stuff.. Follow what seems interesting, if that's nothing, then don't follow anything for a while and wait until something comes around that needs doing.
I've often been asked why I didn't patent FinalKey or made it into a company.. If I don't regret that because maybe I could have become wealthy. My answer is always the same: I was done with it and I had no interest in continuing it, something more interesting had come along.
I’ve gone through a few transitions in life that relate to this sort of thing, and have worked with a very well known CEO coach on this. His advice was invaluable.
He recommended a book on life transitions[1]. Whether you find wealth, retire, or do something else, such a major life transition often requires you to really invest in reflecting on what has changed, what hasn’t, what the deeper implications are, etc. The book above helps lay out some of those questions.
[1] https://www.amazon.ca/Transitions-Making-Sense-Lifes-Changes...
He recommended a book on life transitions[1]. Whether you find wealth, retire, or do something else, such a major life transition often requires you to really invest in reflecting on what has changed, what hasn’t, what the deeper implications are, etc. The book above helps lay out some of those questions.
[1] https://www.amazon.ca/Transitions-Making-Sense-Lifes-Changes...
Thanks. Ordered. TIL that the amazon app is dumber than expected. The link above being Canadian, when I ordered, the app said it could not ship the book. Changed to a .com and then I could order the book. Yay computers.
Oops, sorry about that! :-)
Motivation is not a discipline. If you are constantly motivated, then it’s like, I guess ... not motivation. It’s hitting the boost in a racing game, if you are just boosting the whole game, that’s your baseline speed.
If you’re out of boost (motivation), just wait for it to recharge. But, certainly stay disciplined (maintain baseline speed), don’t stagnate, don’t miss your turns. When the boost shows up, it’ll be effective.
If you fuck up, and fall behind, the only thing the boost will be good for is bringing you up to speed since you languished wondering where it was this whole time.
If you’re out of boost (motivation), just wait for it to recharge. But, certainly stay disciplined (maintain baseline speed), don’t stagnate, don’t miss your turns. When the boost shows up, it’ll be effective.
If you fuck up, and fall behind, the only thing the boost will be good for is bringing you up to speed since you languished wondering where it was this whole time.
> a profound loss of motivation to continue working or developing a career after achieving a comfortable worry-free level of financial success.
So it sounds as though if you gave most of your $ to people who could really improve their lives hugely with a little $, everyone would be better off. Or at least be happier, which is a major form of being better off. Having done something towards helping others and making the world a better place would feel good too, I imagine.
So it sounds as though if you gave most of your $ to people who could really improve their lives hugely with a little $, everyone would be better off. Or at least be happier, which is a major form of being better off. Having done something towards helping others and making the world a better place would feel good too, I imagine.
I think you can't. Money is a major motivator, and its not easy to recreate the same drive by doing the same kind of work, while keeping to the money. I wonder if there are successful people who found the same fulfillment again and again. I know people in science who did it.
So perhaps motivation comes from either by giving away the money or diving into some part of previously unexperienced part of life , e.g. science, religion, etc
So perhaps motivation comes from either by giving away the money or diving into some part of previously unexperienced part of life , e.g. science, religion, etc
Well I would spend some of that money on a therapist. That would help!
At the extreme, a question to ponder, is that if you are not motivated by money then why not give it away? Or if not all of it, how much would you need to give away in order to redevelop your motivation? Or is that a false motivation and you need to consider something else?
There is no shame in taking a vacation and sometimes your money can be used to start something new.
At the extreme, a question to ponder, is that if you are not motivated by money then why not give it away? Or if not all of it, how much would you need to give away in order to redevelop your motivation? Or is that a false motivation and you need to consider something else?
There is no shame in taking a vacation and sometimes your money can be used to start something new.
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Be bored and intentionally deprive yourself of stimulation. Children chase noisy and colorful, bright things. Adults do the same. They're distractions. My own ambition is to have enough to retire early and start my own little shipbuilding and repair company. Using ones hands is surprisingly humbling.
Honestly I suggest just spending it. A yacht, fractional jet, a couple of mcclarens, maybe some investment in space technology, etc. Seems like most fortunes I have seen don’t withstand this level of spending. In 7 or 8 years you could completely have your motivation back :)
P.S. or you could just have a go at solving homelessness in silicon valley :)
I don't think you just got lucky, I think you got unbelievably lucky, Maybe make new startups and get others lucky? Did you found the other startups or did you just happen to be working there? I only ask because maybe you are burned out after starting a few?
Maybe try physical training for a while. Become a triathlete. You'll either grow to love it, or discover after running in bad weather for the 1000th time that you have another thing you'd rather be working on. Plus exercise is always a good idea.
what is it that you like? if you like the work but not the additional hassles around it you can continue your work as a hobby. If you like helping others you work to make a diiference in other people's lives. Last but not the least it is ok not to work it is just a culural/social construct that everyone should work, if you are happy not working than don't work enjoy the sunshine, time with your loved ones and time with yourself.
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You know work isn't compulsory, right? Take up a hobby or volunteer or travel if you don't need to work.
become a mentor. help close the wealth gap.
executive produce a movie. who is your favorite star/rising talent? hire them, you'll become friends.
race sailboats
get involved in settling on the moon. mining and research outposts.
why did you want money in the first place? seems like this was your original motivation...
executive produce a movie. who is your favorite star/rising talent? hire them, you'll become friends.
race sailboats
get involved in settling on the moon. mining and research outposts.
why did you want money in the first place? seems like this was your original motivation...
may i ask how much money is “ a comfortable worry-free level of financial success.”? please do not say it depends. please give me your number.
i want to try to reach this level.
i want to try to reach this level.
Find your highest good. You have the means to pursue it.
Donate all your money to modification to follow.
We can all live multiple lives. Accept that you have completed your current life. You achieved more than most ever do. Now start your next life.
https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/2012-09-02
https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/2012-09-02
lucky you.
[deleted]
Perhaps part of it is that I’m not that motivated by either money or status or power.
Has anyone been in a similar situation and how did you deal with it to find motivation again?