"It's not about the money"

Your goals should not be about money, because:

Money won't make you happy. 80% of your happiness comes from relationships with other people, and money hinders this more than helps it. Making and keeping money takes up more of your time which reduces your happiness. Making a big amount, say a few million, changes people's lives more radically than they are ready for, and disturbs their web of friends etc. We all think we'd be able to handle it, but really we're no different to everyone else... And if the lottery is the only way that you are likely to make an amount this big then it's so unlikely you might as well forget it and get a better plan.
Money is not an effective goal. It won't motivate your subconscious, which is more interested in what you'll do with the money. It needs something to visualise, like snorkelling in warm water with colourful fish by the Barrier Reef. The money is only a means to an end, not an end in itself, and if you don't know clearly what you'd use the money for then it's not a proper goal. Entrepreneurs are not usually motivated by the money they make - it's the challenge, the fun, the freedom, the interest in the product, which drives them, and the money follows naturally. They start with something they believe in. If you start with the money in mind it won't work.
Money is not needed. Most people think that they need lots of money to achieve their personal goals, whether it be the ocean-going yacht or the donkey sanctuary, or being able to give up work and travel the world. But you could do 75% of all of the above without much money - you could charter a yacht with some friends or be paid to sail someone else's to a destination somewhere, or buy a small one. You could help out at weekends at the donkey place, or have just 2 donkeys in your garden (or something!). You could travel in your holidays, or take a few months unpaid maybe. The point is that by blurring the edges you really can achieve most of it, and maybe the small yacht would be more fun than the big one you started imagining, and maybe 2 donkeys will be enough. Don't give up on your dreams because the money is impossible.

So - let go of the money and concentrate on the things that really matter!

Onwards and upwards!

Chris

PS: LEADERSHIP LESSONS – FROM THE PEOPLE YOU LEAD!

A new and challenging course has just been published on Udemy by my friend and colleague, Andy Edwards. It’s for leaders who want to be better leaders – and for followers who want to be led better! Based on research that suggests a huge perception gap between leaders and followers, Andy has taken the standard moans about leaders – and come up with some simple (but not obvious) solutions.

He has given me 100 FREE vouchers for my Tip of the Month readers which he offers on a first come first served basis. Use this link. If prompted, enter the code 'FREELEADERSHIP. If you don’t catch the free offer, you can still get the course for the lowest price at which it can be offered (£9.99). So if you’re too late to get it for free, use this link for the special offer – which is still more than 90% discounted. If prompted, enter the code '9.99LEADERSHIP'.

PPS: Last call for my additional emails on "How to be a self employed trainer" - if you think you might want to go self employed one day, especially into training, then subscribe to this free list here:

PPPS: Article on security and self-employment here.

PPPPS: Happiness - in these weird uncertain times, and as Autumn approaches, remember you can get a free shot of happiness at least once a week from my YouTube channel The World Happiness Project. I've made 61 videos so far - quite a job, and still continuing at a rate of two per week.

PPPPPS: If you want to join a free Happiness discussion, hosted by me and featuring some international experts, different every month, then come to the Zoom Happiness Cafe on Thursday 1 October at 7pm. Zoom link here.

PPPPPPS: I'm being interviewed for a rather serious podcast next week and wondering what to say. There has been this long stream of successful business people talking about the importance of strategy and determination and grit, and yet when I look at my life so far my conclusion is that it's pride, stupidity and weakness have made me successful in what I do. Details here. I wonder how THAT is going to go down on the business podcast!

PPPPPPPS: 20 ways to motivate your team. Bosses - at least try ONE new one from this list, and make everyone's lives even better!

PPPPPPPPS: Check out my Big Book of Happiness, kindle here and paper here – 87 things you can do, practical ideas, that will increase the amount of happiness in your life.