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My First Million

My First Million

The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.

Back to Takes

Billionaires who continue obsessing over making more money are fundamentally misunderstanding what drives human happiness

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The Reasoning

Once basic needs and security are met, additional money provides diminishing returns on happiness. Continued focus on accumulation suggests lack of clarity on what actually matters.

What Needs to Be True

  • Money beyond a certain threshold doesn't increase life satisfaction
  • Experiences and relationships matter more than material accumulation
  • Many wealthy people haven't done the internal work to understand their true motivations

Counterargument

Maybe they're driven by legacy, impact, or genuine love of the business game rather than personal consumption

What Would Change This View

Evidence that ultra-wealthy individuals report higher life satisfaction when focused on wealth accumulation vs other pursuits

Implications for Builders

Define your 'enough' number early and stick to it

Focus on building for impact and fulfillment, not just financial outcomes

Invest in experiences and relationships as your wealth grows

Consider what will matter to you at the end of your life

Example Application

An entrepreneur sells their company for $50M and instead of immediately starting another company to reach $100M, they take time to travel, spend with family, and explore what truly motivates them before deciding on next steps.