Why Chasing Money Won't Lead To Long-Term Success

Now let’s make something clear…the perception of ‘rich’ all comes down to the individual. Those who say they want to get rich usually know that its true form originates from passion and hard work. It is the passion itself that leads to one's wealth. However, there are also the incompetent, who are the ones unable to decipher the meaning and, thus, have a misconception of what it means to be rich.

Be wealthy, not rich.

Personally, I've met a lot of different people in my life, all with different goals and aspirations. Some have wanted to become doctors or entrepreneurs, while others I've met just wanted to get “rich.”

Well, allow me to make it clear for you. Chances are, if you’re chasing money, you’ll probably end up with nothing at all. Money shouldn't be the object of your goals; it should be the idea of success. Hard work in itself leads to success, and with success, comes wealth.

Now, to me, being wealthy and being rich are completely different measures. Where some believe that the cars you drive or the clothes you wear are the measures of your success, I believe the idea of happiness and financial freedom is success in its most telling form.

Make sacrifices.

Growing up in high school, I never really had a job. Raised in a family with modest values, my hardworking parents made sure all my needs were met. At first, seeing friends around me heading off to part-time jobs in high school and having their own financial freedom made me quite jealous - I wanted that. I wanted to have the sense to make my own independent choices, to buy the latest trends in high school, and to fit in.

To my employed friends, the idea of not working in high school seemed odd. To my parents, education was a top priority; they went the extra mile to make sure I did not have to work and that I focused all my time and energy on school. To this day, I don’t regret not working throughout my high school years. Don’t get me wrong; I wasn't a spoiled kid growing up. I understood the true value of money itself, and my way of giving back was through academic achievement.

In fact, the friends who were employed in high school, who were money hungry at the time, haven’t achieved much today. While working almost full time throughout high school to have their years of glory with the latest trends in order to appear popular, they weren't able to truly gain anything from their work experience.

I haven’t see much progress, as they still have their mediocre lifestyles all because they thought that bi-weekly pay check made them “rich.” They were so busy blinded by the short-term salary they earned that they never saw the end goal. They never thought to stop and think, “Is this it? Can I go further? Is making coffee or working in retail all I want to do for the rest of my life?”

Find your passion.

Guess what? Out of all the successful figures in our world today, none of them were even after the money, knowing that money is actually their own worst enemy. Notable figures like Warren Buffet were never after becoming rich; in fact, he still operates out of the same office, still wears the same clothes and still lives in the same neighborhood. His passion and hard work in finance paved the pathway to him becoming one of the most humble and wealthiest figures in our world today.

Now don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying that part-time employment at a young age won’t be beneficial. Being able to find a balance while working during college instills lessons in prioritizing, time management, and responsibility. Whatever field you’re majoring in, it is vital to work or intern in that industry throughout your college years. Chances are, you've probably gained two to three years of work experience and have a higher possibility of landing a permanent job there.

Happiness is down the road.

Make sacrifices now, and enjoy the benefits later. Understand what you want and how you can get it. If it comes to making difficult choices and risking what you already have, do it. Risk can reap the greatest benefit. Chasing after your dreams and passions will ultimately lead you down the path to success, chasing money won’t.

Top Photo Courtesy: Ready Credit