Why Do the Rich Keep Working?

How much is enough?

“I had a guy come to me and say, ‘I’ve got $40 million. Do you think it’s enough?’ ” White recalls. “He meant, Was it enough to be happy and safe? The correct answer is no. You won’t find it with $4 billion. You’re looking for ‘enough’ in the wrong place.”

There’s a great piece over at Forbes (from 2006) asking “Why do the Rich Keep Working?”

Mintz conducted four-hour interviews with 25 execs, each worth between $5 million and $500 million. Some admitted that they had grown accustomed to the glittery perks of success: toys, praise, glory. But there were darker themes, too.

The article is dark and disturbing. As children we were sold the dream that if we made enough money, everything would be wonderful. Now along comes this study that says everyone’s life is gonna suck no matter what?

Bah!

That article’s not about me – it’s about workaholics; and I don’t qualify. I have a parallel addiction that I’ll discuss this month . . .

But right now, I want to know what you think. Answer me this:

1) How much is enough?
2) Do you have enough?
3) When you have enough, will you find something to do other than work?

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4 Responses to “Why Do the Rich Keep Working?”

  1. huntek says:

    1) enough is my peace, not my bank account =P (well, sometimes…)
    2) It could be better, but yes I have =)
    3) Yes! even sell flowers =)

  2. Samurai says:

    They look for security.

    They see how much money is made and lost in one single day, and they fear that one day those “loosing big money” will be them.

    So they keep accumulating.

    :-)

  3. reyalP says:

    You can be happy right now if you want. If you have one dollar or one million dollars, it’s really a matter of just loving yourself and being happy now.

    From the excerpt, I get the impression that this article is saying that being “happy” is akin to settling down and no longer working or putting in that 110% anymore. I think that you should be happy FIRST — for the sake of this context, being “happy” means being comfortable with where you are in life — and at the same time be pushing yourself to achieve more.

    To throw in yet another curveball, I still think that negative motivation is a good idea. For example, write your a friend you trust a cheque for $100 (or whatever will motivate you) and tell him he can cash that if you don’t do what you say you’re going to do. You can still remain happy while experiencing the benefits of negative motivation.

  4. shellylyn says:

    There is a quote by Oscar Wilde that I think is relevant at this moment: “It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.”

    Workaholics are Tedious and the closing statement of the article reinforces the tedious nature of workaholics:

    “The disturbing answer: Work becomes a substitute for greater meaning in their lives.”

    ….Disturbing to who? (Certainly, Not me), I say: Stick that golf club up your arse and tip your bottle of fancy pants wine back and get a life!

    Oh, And really, you needn’t work more than 10-15 hours a week….to have MORE than enough.