We all have different motivations for why we chose our career paths. Some people have passions for industries, some have passions for making a difference, and some do it strictly for the money. 

Too often, we generalize the latter as bad. If you’re only motivated by money, you can’t keep going when things get tough or, even worse, you can’t be a good person. 

The truth is we all have a mix of reasons guiding our career choices.

Authenticity in motivation matters more than the reasons we give others for appearance’s sake. We can’t be consistent and persevere with motivations we don’t believe in. Trying to force ourselves to be driven by causes we don’t resonate with is a recipe for burnout and dissatisfaction.

Starting a company to get rich is every bit as noble as starting one to change the world.

Even the biggest do gooders eventually delete “don’t be evil”…

— Bryce Roberts (@bryce) August 11, 2023

For some, the biggest driver is finding a job they absolutely love – the kind of work that feels deeply fulfilling. For others, the motivation comes from earning a salary high enough to achieve financial freedom and support a comfortable lifestyle for themselves or their family. And for many people, it’s a combination – they want to make a difference while securing financial freedom.

Instead of casting aside money as a motivator, we should celebrate the diversity of reasons that inspire people. Most of us are a mix of motivations – recognizing this expands our empathy.

I’m motivated by a desire to help tackle enormous challenges like climate change. But I’m also driven by memories of my parents tirelessly working overtime when I was young to keep our middle-class household afloat and the sacrifices (including their marriage) they made to ensure my sister and I had every possible opportunity to succeed.

When asked about his motivations, Charlie Munger said,

“I had a considerable passion to get rich. Not because I wanted Ferraris – I wanted the independence.” 

For me, doing meaningful work goes hand-in-hand with achieving comfortable independence. Not to splurge on luxuries, but to invest real quality time in relationships, like the ones with my spouse and kids and to remain present for life’s most significant moments.

Wealth alone won’t sustain someone’s passion long-term. But it’s an incredibly powerful motivator when it aligns with finding purpose and making an impact.

Ultimately, the world benefits when people are engaged, fulfilled, and motivated in their work – whether by passion, profit, or a blend of both. An ethical or impact pursuit of financial success is the ultimate win-win and we should celebrate both halves of that equation.