Money's not a motivator for me, need help with mindset

[Matt Gehrls]

I'm reading Think and Grow Rich right now, and the six steps to change your mindset are very specific of the goal you write that you are supposed to repeat aloud twice a day. The problem is it revolves around money, and while I know I'm reading a book about growing rich, money is not a strong motivator for me. I don't think you're greedy if it is for you. It's just not for me.

That being said, at this point I'm not sure the book is doing much for me because it is hyper focused on money. Is there some way to change my mindset about reading about money? I need mindset help for a mindset book....

[Wendell De Guzman]

If you like real estate investing, which exit strategy do you like?

Wholesaling? Rehabbing? Landlording?

Which part of the real estate investing process do you value more or gives you more excitement? Is it acquisition or the process of buying a house? is it the rehabbing or improving a property? is it the sales process? is it property management?

Also, what's an ideal day for you?

How do you think you can get to that ideal day?

Based on answers to these questions, you can define what motivates you more.

The old adage is true: money is good but it does not buy you happiness and I will add that it does buy you fulfillment either. I am not saying you don't need money to be happy - you definitely do. But, there's more to life than money and if money is your only motivator, you got to dig deeper because the really awesome accomplishments throughout human history is driven not just by money.

SIGNIFICANCE...

Doing something cool through creativity and invention...

Building something greater than yourself...

Helping others...

Leaving a LEGACY...

These are some of those motivators.

[Matt Gehrls]

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

Originally posted by @Matt Gehrls:

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

Originally posted by @Matt Gehrls:

Originally posted by @David Zheng:

I don't understand how you could want to invest if money isn't a driving force. Sure it doesn't have to be the main reason, but why waste time investing if you don't care about the green at all

 I love real estate, and am fascinated by it. It is a field that I can be in for decades and still have things to learn, and ways to grow; all while being able to do it how I want (as long as it is legal, moral, and ethical). I also want to build something. It is way more about those things than money to me. The money is the reason I can do it how I want and when I want so it is important, but the fulfillment is way more important in my mind. That's not to say your way of thinking is wrong and if that works for you, great! I don't work that way. Does that help clarify?

Sorry to call you out but your WHY is total BS. You like real estate just because you find it fascinating and you want to build something yet have no interest in money? It is BS because you cannot build anything without money. At the core of any thriving business is profit and cash flow. Even non-profit businesses need to make money or they go out of business. You fundamentally are misunderstanding how a business operates. Cash is your way to expand and purchase new properties. Cash pays employees. Cash pays mortgage, utilities, insurance and the list goes on. When you are old and unable to work, it will be the wealth you accumulated that will pay your bills. I am not talking about taking trips around the world, I am talking about paying for prescription pills and assisted living. So maybe you don't care about money, but do you care about being cared for when you grow old? Or do you expect to put that burden on the government or your children? Do you want to make a difference in the world? With money you can donate and impact change for generations to come or you could volunteer at the soup kitchen once a week and make a different in 20 peoples lives for one day. There are so many reasons to motivate a person and they all require money.

So either you don't have any motivation or you fundamentally do not understand what money represents. The only limited commodity is time and money is traded for time.

 You don't sound sorry at all. In fact, you seem to be itching for an argument where there isn't one to be had. I think you really didn't read what I said. Quoting the post you hated on so viciously "The money is the reason I can do it how I want and when I want so it is important, but the fulfillment is way more important in my mind."

You need to relax. We actually agree. You said yourself "there are so many reasons to motivate a person and they all require money." I said the same thing. I told you what my motivation was. For you to judge that is hateful, and rather rude. That's not the kind of thing I have come to expect from this community, and I wish you would take that attitude somewhere else.

No judgement or hate. I was trying to make points to help change your mindset, which is what you asked for help doing. Even though you say money is not your motivation, it is the underlying need. Many people have misunderstandings about money rooted in flawed concepts such as, "money is the root of all evil" and "money doesn't buy happiness." Nobody in the world acquires investment property just to make stacks of money. The image of a rich person sitting around counting stacks of money is not based in reality. 

Everyone who wants money has other motivations, yourself included. The reason I said your WHY was BS is to challenge you and provoke you to think about the real thing that motivates you. 

Here is an unrelated example. Think of a body builder who lifts weights. Someone may argue they lift weights to get muscles, but the muscles are only a means to an end. What they really want is to look a certain way, be stronger or use the muscles to compete. They want to look a certain way to attract attention, to build confidence, to build respect, compete to make money, be a role model or any number of many other WHY's.

My point is that money is not a WHY, it is a means to an end. Have you considered you may have unhealthy feelings towards money and that could be holding you back? Nobody is saying your WHY should be money, just that money will help you reach your WHY. 

 I appreciate your clarification, and while your intent may have been to challenge I still argue it was insulting. It does seem like flamethrower language to say my motivation is BS.

I just keep reading people making assumptions here. So let me take it point by point.

What did I say that made you think I didn't understand the importance of money? I said it was required for my why to be. It is a safe assumption that anyone who is over 22 and doesn't have a trust fund knows why money is important.

What made you think I have "unhealthy feelings toward money"? My wife wants to have low rent apartments for the ESL parents of the students she teaches, and she can't get that until we can afford that kind of charity. We both want to get other degrees just for fun. That is a luxury for the rich. I don't feel bad doing any of that.

Why do you think I don't have my why pretty nailed down? I told it to you, you called it BS with the only explanation being about money which you agree with me on.

Why is it that people make all these assumptions when I say money's not my primary motivator? Money as the primary motivator for anyone is probably dishonest, and if it really, truly is someone's primary motivator I feel very bad for them.

You've challenged me. How'd I do?

[Joe Splitrock]

Originally posted by @Matt Gehrls:

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

Originally posted by @Matt Gehrls:

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

Originally posted by @Matt Gehrls:

Originally posted by @David Zheng:

I don't understand how you could want to invest if money isn't a driving force. Sure it doesn't have to be the main reason, but why waste time investing if you don't care about the green at all

 I love real estate, and am fascinated by it. It is a field that I can be in for decades and still have things to learn, and ways to grow; all while being able to do it how I want (as long as it is legal, moral, and ethical). I also want to build something. It is way more about those things than money to me. The money is the reason I can do it how I want and when I want so it is important, but the fulfillment is way more important in my mind. That's not to say your way of thinking is wrong and if that works for you, great! I don't work that way. Does that help clarify?

Sorry to call you out but your WHY is total BS. You like real estate just because you find it fascinating and you want to build something yet have no interest in money? It is BS because you cannot build anything without money. At the core of any thriving business is profit and cash flow. Even non-profit businesses need to make money or they go out of business. You fundamentally are misunderstanding how a business operates. Cash is your way to expand and purchase new properties. Cash pays employees. Cash pays mortgage, utilities, insurance and the list goes on. When you are old and unable to work, it will be the wealth you accumulated that will pay your bills. I am not talking about taking trips around the world, I am talking about paying for prescription pills and assisted living. So maybe you don't care about money, but do you care about being cared for when you grow old? Or do you expect to put that burden on the government or your children? Do you want to make a difference in the world? With money you can donate and impact change for generations to come or you could volunteer at the soup kitchen once a week and make a different in 20 peoples lives for one day. There are so many reasons to motivate a person and they all require money.

So either you don't have any motivation or you fundamentally do not understand what money represents. The only limited commodity is time and money is traded for time.

 You don't sound sorry at all. In fact, you seem to be itching for an argument where there isn't one to be had. I think you really didn't read what I said. Quoting the post you hated on so viciously "The money is the reason I can do it how I want and when I want so it is important, but the fulfillment is way more important in my mind."

You need to relax. We actually agree. You said yourself "there are so many reasons to motivate a person and they all require money." I said the same thing. I told you what my motivation was. For you to judge that is hateful, and rather rude. That's not the kind of thing I have come to expect from this community, and I wish you would take that attitude somewhere else.

No judgement or hate. I was trying to make points to help change your mindset, which is what you asked for help doing. Even though you say money is not your motivation, it is the underlying need. Many people have misunderstandings about money rooted in flawed concepts such as, "money is the root of all evil" and "money doesn't buy happiness." Nobody in the world acquires investment property just to make stacks of money. The image of a rich person sitting around counting stacks of money is not based in reality. 

Everyone who wants money has other motivations, yourself included. The reason I said your WHY was BS is to challenge you and provoke you to think about the real thing that motivates you. 

Here is an unrelated example. Think of a body builder who lifts weights. Someone may argue they lift weights to get muscles, but the muscles are only a means to an end. What they really want is to look a certain way, be stronger or use the muscles to compete. They want to look a certain way to attract attention, to build confidence, to build respect, compete to make money, be a role model or any number of many other WHY's.

My point is that money is not a WHY, it is a means to an end. Have you considered you may have unhealthy feelings towards money and that could be holding you back? Nobody is saying your WHY should be money, just that money will help you reach your WHY. 

 I appreciate your clarification, and while your intent may have been to challenge I still argue it was insulting. It does seem like flamethrower language to say my motivation is BS.

I just keep reading people making assumptions here. So let me take it point by point.

What did I say that made you think I didn't understand the importance of money? I said it was required for my why to be. It is a safe assumption that anyone who is over 22 and doesn't have a trust fund knows why money is important.

What made you think I have "unhealthy feelings toward money"? My wife wants to have low rent apartments for the ESL parents of the students she teaches, and she can't get that until we can afford that kind of charity. We both want to get other degrees just for fun. That is a luxury for the rich. I don't feel bad doing any of that.

Why do you think I don't have my why pretty nailed down? I told it to you, you called it BS with the only explanation being about money which you agree with me on.

Why is it that people make all these assumptions when I say money's not my primary motivator? Money as the primary motivator for anyone is probably dishonest, and if it really, truly is someone's primary motivator I feel very bad for them.

You've challenged me. How'd I do?

I never said you didn't have a WHY. I just said the WHY you gave us was BS. Just because it struck me as a surface answer and ultimately I know there is more sustenance to what motivates you and everyone. Write it down for yourself and you will find that money will enable you to reach all your goals. It will not get your degree for you, but it will free up your time to pursue it. 

The reason I think you have unhealthy views of money is your view that money being a motivator means someone is dishonest. Money is a motivator for me because of what it will allow me to do. The time and freedom it buys me. The people I can help and the security it brings my family. I have no negative view of money. In fact if you go to the worst neighborhoods, you will find it is lack of money that has caused their problems. If your ESL parents had more money, they wouldn't need low income housing.

Maybe I just have a different way of viewing the world than you do. That is probably why I found the book helpful and you didn't. 

[Matt Gehrls]

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

Originally posted by @Matt Gehrls:

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

Originally posted by @Matt Gehrls:

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

Originally posted by @Matt Gehrls:

Originally posted by @David Zheng:

I don't understand how you could want to invest if money isn't a driving force. Sure it doesn't have to be the main reason, but why waste time investing if you don't care about the green at all

 I love real estate, and am fascinated by it. It is a field that I can be in for decades and still have things to learn, and ways to grow; all while being able to do it how I want (as long as it is legal, moral, and ethical). I also want to build something. It is way more about those things than money to me. The money is the reason I can do it how I want and when I want so it is important, but the fulfillment is way more important in my mind. That's not to say your way of thinking is wrong and if that works for you, great! I don't work that way. Does that help clarify?

Sorry to call you out but your WHY is total BS. You like real estate just because you find it fascinating and you want to build something yet have no interest in money? It is BS because you cannot build anything without money. At the core of any thriving business is profit and cash flow. Even non-profit businesses need to make money or they go out of business. You fundamentally are misunderstanding how a business operates. Cash is your way to expand and purchase new properties. Cash pays employees. Cash pays mortgage, utilities, insurance and the list goes on. When you are old and unable to work, it will be the wealth you accumulated that will pay your bills. I am not talking about taking trips around the world, I am talking about paying for prescription pills and assisted living. So maybe you don't care about money, but do you care about being cared for when you grow old? Or do you expect to put that burden on the government or your children? Do you want to make a difference in the world? With money you can donate and impact change for generations to come or you could volunteer at the soup kitchen once a week and make a different in 20 peoples lives for one day. There are so many reasons to motivate a person and they all require money.

So either you don't have any motivation or you fundamentally do not understand what money represents. The only limited commodity is time and money is traded for time.

 You don't sound sorry at all. In fact, you seem to be itching for an argument where there isn't one to be had. I think you really didn't read what I said. Quoting the post you hated on so viciously "The money is the reason I can do it how I want and when I want so it is important, but the fulfillment is way more important in my mind."

You need to relax. We actually agree. You said yourself "there are so many reasons to motivate a person and they all require money." I said the same thing. I told you what my motivation was. For you to judge that is hateful, and rather rude. That's not the kind of thing I have come to expect from this community, and I wish you would take that attitude somewhere else.

No judgement or hate. I was trying to make points to help change your mindset, which is what you asked for help doing. Even though you say money is not your motivation, it is the underlying need. Many people have misunderstandings about money rooted in flawed concepts such as, "money is the root of all evil" and "money doesn't buy happiness." Nobody in the world acquires investment property just to make stacks of money. The image of a rich person sitting around counting stacks of money is not based in reality. 

Everyone who wants money has other motivations, yourself included. The reason I said your WHY was BS is to challenge you and provoke you to think about the real thing that motivates you. 

Here is an unrelated example. Think of a body builder who lifts weights. Someone may argue they lift weights to get muscles, but the muscles are only a means to an end. What they really want is to look a certain way, be stronger or use the muscles to compete. They want to look a certain way to attract attention, to build confidence, to build respect, compete to make money, be a role model or any number of many other WHY's.

My point is that money is not a WHY, it is a means to an end. Have you considered you may have unhealthy feelings towards money and that could be holding you back? Nobody is saying your WHY should be money, just that money will help you reach your WHY. 

 I appreciate your clarification, and while your intent may have been to challenge I still argue it was insulting. It does seem like flamethrower language to say my motivation is BS.

I just keep reading people making assumptions here. So let me take it point by point.

What did I say that made you think I didn't understand the importance of money? I said it was required for my why to be. It is a safe assumption that anyone who is over 22 and doesn't have a trust fund knows why money is important.

What made you think I have "unhealthy feelings toward money"? My wife wants to have low rent apartments for the ESL parents of the students she teaches, and she can't get that until we can afford that kind of charity. We both want to get other degrees just for fun. That is a luxury for the rich. I don't feel bad doing any of that.

Why do you think I don't have my why pretty nailed down? I told it to you, you called it BS with the only explanation being about money which you agree with me on.

Why is it that people make all these assumptions when I say money's not my primary motivator? Money as the primary motivator for anyone is probably dishonest, and if it really, truly is someone's primary motivator I feel very bad for them.

You've challenged me. How'd I do?

I never said you didn't have a WHY. I just said the WHY you gave us was BS. Just because it struck me as a surface answer and ultimately I know there is more sustenance to what motivates you and everyone. Write it down for yourself and you will find that money will enable you to reach all your goals. It will not get your degree for you, but it will free up your time to pursue it. 

The reason I think you have unhealthy views of money is your view that money being a motivator means someone is dishonest. Money is a motivator for me because of what it will allow me to do. The time and freedom it buys me. The people I can help and the security it brings my family. I have no negative view of money. In fact if you go to the worst neighborhoods, you will find it is lack of money that has caused their problems. If your ESL parents had more money, they wouldn't need low income housing.

Maybe I just have a different way of viewing the world than you do. That is probably why I found the book helpful and you didn't. 

 You are bad at reading what I say. I said as a primary motivator, money is not an honest answer. Secondary sure. You even said yourself money is a motivator BECAUSE... the because is your primary motivator, not the money. Money is a secondary motivator for everyone. Nothing special about that. So you agree with me on another thing you seem to want to argue about. And what do you mean, surface? I'll to turn it back on you. Your why was exactly as surface as mine. You said something that is true of every single person ever, just like I did. Security for family? Helping people? Freedom? Who doesn't want that? You can be on your high horse if you want, but before you rush to judgement on other people, read what they say. You seem like you agree with my points then judge me for something you just must not understand. I'm done with that.

[Justin Howe]

Understand why you do the things you do. 

Is it for more time? Freedom to control how you live life? 

Once you have a clear understanding of why you wake up every day, then you'll start taking actions towards reaching that goal every day. 

Having some sort of "goal reminders" helps me stay focused. 

For example, you could set up an auto reminder through IFTTT.com to text you every day with your "why".

That way every single day, you have a reminder of your "why".

[Ayana Lugo]

My advice is to move around as it relates to mindset...explore many avenues. I watch a guy named Ralph Smart (Infinite Waters) on Youtube. I also subscribed to a channel called You Are Creators that shows many different mindset videos. You have to follow who resonates with you and know what would your prosperity and abundance look like.

[Brandon L.]

@Matt Gehrls a lot of people have a negative perception of money because of things they were told by family as they grew up. 

If you love those around you, and want to give them the best life possible. You need money, and lots of it.

Think of it as a tool in the tool box that will help you solve any problem you may have.

[Tyler Weaver]

21 irrefutable laws of leadership by John C Maxwell might be a good book for you.  

At the macro level it might not really be about mindset like you are asking.  But it definitely seems more in line with your way of thinking than Napoleon Hill.

You mentioned an accountability partner, do you journal and review it with them?  What you are asking is probably not going to come from a book, but rather introspection. What did you do that day, what did you want to do that day, how well did you accomplish it, how did it make you feel, do you feel like you are getting enough done, falling behind, or crushing through stuff? Then you will have some good reading!

[Brian Lacey]

Read "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom. It might resonate with you.

[Joshua Martin]

Matt Gehrls

Hey Matt,

Great question, my friend, but maybe one that resides more in the realm of philosophy and theories of the good life than on a forum for investing. That being said, I'm sure we've all thought about it, and I'll weigh in anyhow.

Recommended reads: Plato's Republic, and Plato's Gorgias (though you'd be stretching to make the connections with this one, or at least they never actually talk about money). My takeaway: money is undeniably an instrumental good, we really only desire money for x or y, to do this or that, and it is what you might call a necessary evil (although Socrates obviously didn't think it was at all necessary).

My motivation: make a lot of it in as short a period of time as possible. Why? So I can live the life I want. Surprisingly (maybe), this doesn't require sports cars and yachts, but what it does require is time. I currently have two bachelors degrees and work second shift in a restaurant waiting tables and bar tending (a great restaurant, but still), and I just can't imagine doing this long term. In ten years I want to build custom furniture, I want to sit around and study philosophy, I want to travel. None of those other routes exclusively will or can afford me that lifestyle. As a result, I have a crazy fierce level of motivation to make this work for me, and it will.

If you're not into reading the ancients, check out Mr. Money Mustache (a blogger), and the MadFientist blog, the latter is all about people who have achieved financial freedom and live the early retirement lifestyle. Discovering such a thing was possible was hyper-motivating. Maybe for you too.

Do or don't, best of luck. I guess we all live the life we think is best.

JTM

[Joshua Martin]

Oh, and I said 'time,' but the obvious goal is FREEDOM.

[Joshua Martin]

And one last comment, if you're looking for just a little more self accountability and clarity, I've recently started using this Passion Planer (that's the name) and its pretty sweet. A daily planner like any other, but one that is aimed at incorporating your short and long term goals in very concrete ways.

Again, best of luck,

JTM

[Ryland Taniguchi]

Originally posted by @Matt Gehrls:

I'm reading Think and Grow Rich right now, and the six steps to change your mindset are very specific of the goal you write that you are supposed to repeat aloud twice a day. The problem is it revolves around money, and while I know I'm reading a book about growing rich, money is not a strong motivator for me. I don't think you're greedy if it is for you. It's just not for me.

That being said, at this point I'm not sure the book is doing much for me because it is hyper focused on money. Is there some way to change my mindset about reading about money? I need mindset help for a mindset book....

 I think you need to read more books by Napoleon Hill. Think and Grow Rich is the most well known but not the best one he wrote. Read Laws of Success. In this book, it focuses on Rendering more value and service than you take back in price.

You don't need to be motivated by money to be successful in business and often the most successful business people are driven more by purpose than by money.

Ask yourself what is your contribution to this planet. Do you add value to others? If you can expand your contribution in something that people want, money is just a by product of this.

The question is what does motivate you?

[Ian Walsh]

I will be honest, if money is not the number one factor in this business, I am not sure I have seen someone succeed without that being the case.  I really don't mean to discourage you, but it has to be the top focus.  Why else would you be doing this?

[Joe Splitrock]

Originally posted by @Matt Gehrls:

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

Originally posted by @Matt Gehrls:

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

Originally posted by @Matt Gehrls:

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

Originally posted by @Matt Gehrls:

Originally posted by @David Zheng:

I don't understand how you could want to invest if money isn't a driving force. Sure it doesn't have to be the main reason, but why waste time investing if you don't care about the green at all

 I love real estate, and am fascinated by it. It is a field that I can be in for decades and still have things to learn, and ways to grow; all while being able to do it how I want (as long as it is legal, moral, and ethical). I also want to build something. It is way more about those things than money to me. The money is the reason I can do it how I want and when I want so it is important, but the fulfillment is way more important in my mind. That's not to say your way of thinking is wrong and if that works for you, great! I don't work that way. Does that help clarify?

Sorry to call you out but your WHY is total BS. You like real estate just because you find it fascinating and you want to build something yet have no interest in money? It is BS because you cannot build anything without money. At the core of any thriving business is profit and cash flow. Even non-profit businesses need to make money or they go out of business. You fundamentally are misunderstanding how a business operates. Cash is your way to expand and purchase new properties. Cash pays employees. Cash pays mortgage, utilities, insurance and the list goes on. When you are old and unable to work, it will be the wealth you accumulated that will pay your bills. I am not talking about taking trips around the world, I am talking about paying for prescription pills and assisted living. So maybe you don't care about money, but do you care about being cared for when you grow old? Or do you expect to put that burden on the government or your children? Do you want to make a difference in the world? With money you can donate and impact change for generations to come or you could volunteer at the soup kitchen once a week and make a different in 20 peoples lives for one day. There are so many reasons to motivate a person and they all require money.

So either you don't have any motivation or you fundamentally do not understand what money represents. The only limited commodity is time and money is traded for time.

 You don't sound sorry at all. In fact, you seem to be itching for an argument where there isn't one to be had. I think you really didn't read what I said. Quoting the post you hated on so viciously "The money is the reason I can do it how I want and when I want so it is important, but the fulfillment is way more important in my mind."

You need to relax. We actually agree. You said yourself "there are so many reasons to motivate a person and they all require money." I said the same thing. I told you what my motivation was. For you to judge that is hateful, and rather rude. That's not the kind of thing I have come to expect from this community, and I wish you would take that attitude somewhere else.

No judgement or hate. I was trying to make points to help change your mindset, which is what you asked for help doing. Even though you say money is not your motivation, it is the underlying need. Many people have misunderstandings about money rooted in flawed concepts such as, "money is the root of all evil" and "money doesn't buy happiness." Nobody in the world acquires investment property just to make stacks of money. The image of a rich person sitting around counting stacks of money is not based in reality. 

Everyone who wants money has other motivations, yourself included. The reason I said your WHY was BS is to challenge you and provoke you to think about the real thing that motivates you. 

Here is an unrelated example. Think of a body builder who lifts weights. Someone may argue they lift weights to get muscles, but the muscles are only a means to an end. What they really want is to look a certain way, be stronger or use the muscles to compete. They want to look a certain way to attract attention, to build confidence, to build respect, compete to make money, be a role model or any number of many other WHY's.

My point is that money is not a WHY, it is a means to an end. Have you considered you may have unhealthy feelings towards money and that could be holding you back? Nobody is saying your WHY should be money, just that money will help you reach your WHY. 

 I appreciate your clarification, and while your intent may have been to challenge I still argue it was insulting. It does seem like flamethrower language to say my motivation is BS.

I just keep reading people making assumptions here. So let me take it point by point.

What did I say that made you think I didn't understand the importance of money? I said it was required for my why to be. It is a safe assumption that anyone who is over 22 and doesn't have a trust fund knows why money is important.

What made you think I have "unhealthy feelings toward money"? My wife wants to have low rent apartments for the ESL parents of the students she teaches, and she can't get that until we can afford that kind of charity. We both want to get other degrees just for fun. That is a luxury for the rich. I don't feel bad doing any of that.

Why do you think I don't have my why pretty nailed down? I told it to you, you called it BS with the only explanation being about money which you agree with me on.

Why is it that people make all these assumptions when I say money's not my primary motivator? Money as the primary motivator for anyone is probably dishonest, and if it really, truly is someone's primary motivator I feel very bad for them.

You've challenged me. How'd I do?

I never said you didn't have a WHY. I just said the WHY you gave us was BS. Just because it struck me as a surface answer and ultimately I know there is more sustenance to what motivates you and everyone. Write it down for yourself and you will find that money will enable you to reach all your goals. It will not get your degree for you, but it will free up your time to pursue it. 

The reason I think you have unhealthy views of money is your view that money being a motivator means someone is dishonest. Money is a motivator for me because of what it will allow me to do. The time and freedom it buys me. The people I can help and the security it brings my family. I have no negative view of money. In fact if you go to the worst neighborhoods, you will find it is lack of money that has caused their problems. If your ESL parents had more money, they wouldn't need low income housing.

Maybe I just have a different way of viewing the world than you do. That is probably why I found the book helpful and you didn't. 

 You are bad at reading what I say. I said as a primary motivator, money is not an honest answer. Secondary sure. You even said yourself money is a motivator BECAUSE... the because is your primary motivator, not the money. Money is a secondary motivator for everyone. Nothing special about that. So you agree with me on another thing you seem to want to argue about. And what do you mean, surface? I'll to turn it back on you. Your why was exactly as surface as mine. You said something that is true of every single person ever, just like I did. Security for family? Helping people? Freedom? Who doesn't want that? You can be on your high horse if you want, but before you rush to judgement on other people, read what they say. You seem like you agree with my points then judge me for something you just must not understand. I'm done with that.

Now we are getting somewhere. The point I am trying to make, which you seem to agree with, is that money is the underlying motivator for pretty much everything. You refer to it as a secondary motivator but without it, none of your primary motivators are possible. 

My belief is that you are holding negative a negative view of money. If you really believed money enabled you to realize your dreams to help yourself, your family and others, then acquiring money should be a primary motivator. The WHY is just what you can do with money but it is also a motivator. In my example of a weight lifter, acquiring muscle mass is their primary goal not secondary because without it none of their other goals are possible.

The poor mindset says, I have to go to work to pay the bills. The mindset says money is a necessary evil and the belief is that people who acquire money do it by cheating or stealing. 

The rich mindset believes that acquiring wealth is necessary to achieve security, to help people and to enjoy a more fulfilling life. The mindset believes you acquire wealth by helping others and that by having more you can give more. 

Money doesn't make people greedy. Some of the least generous people I know are poor.

Think and Grow Rich was based on research done on the most successful people of the time - most were wealthy but many had other success such as business mastery, charity or political.  It reveals the traits that lead all those successful people. It is blueprint for success and one of the key points of the book is that your mindset is the key difference. If your mindset is not right, you will never reach the highest level in any endeavor. If you believe nothing in that book is helpful, then I encourage you to read it again and again until you understand it.

[Brian J Peterson]

@Matt Gehrls - I'd read the book The Secret, it's based off Think and Grow Rich but if focuses on other life aspects and not just money.. Also, Think and Grow might be geared towards money but really you can replace money with whatever it is you want to manifest into your reality..

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Rhonda-Byrne/dp/1582701709/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468939253&sr=8-1&keywords=the+secrete

[Manuel Gonzalez]

100% agree with Joe splitrock...Growing up poor makes you  realise  the importance  of money. Maybe you  haven't been at the bottom and can't understand what money does to quality of life but that's my 100% motivation to ethicaly and morally  make as much money as I can in the shortest amount of time leave something  for my kids so each generation keeps on growing. Maybe you have met all your  goals and don't find motivation in money. Book I recommend  is THE BIBLE. Good luck and happy investing.

[Sam LLoyd]

Specifically, the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible.  This is a great book for money mindset.  A line I liked last week, referring to work and money:

Better a handful with tranquility than two hands full with toil...

It sounds to me like you're a workaholic (as am I).  It also sounds like you're into wholesaling and less hands on (I could be wrong).  For me, I love to create.   Cash flow is what I need to justify building houses, additions, and making places look/function better.  I have set goals in real estate investing that will allow me to have the time/money to create what I want, be it art, writing, building...  There are many aspects to real estate that I don't like, but I do them because of my goals.

Summary:  As long as you are motivated, and as long as you can step back and look at your motivation and understand it, I think you already have the mindset you are looking for.  If you get up at 4am to get stuff done, but you don't enjoy it, that's fine.  If you're doing what you need to do, and you know why, then you already have the correct mindset.

[Tom V.]

@Matt Gehrls

You're right, you do need help with mindset. Here's the key that you're missing. It's not about the MONEY, its about WHAT YOU CAN DO with the money.

Think about how much good you could do if you were rich. How much you could donate to charity, how many opportunities your kids could have, how many people's lives you could change FOR THE BETTER if you had the money to do so.

If you have a desire to make the world a better place, then it is your DUTY to get rich so you can make the world a better place by using your money to help others.

[Ken T.]

Money is not a motivator for me either. However I do have things I want to accomplish in life, and those cost a lot of money. Find your ultimate goal and work towards it.

In my case I would like to start some foundations. That way when I die, my legacy will live on. This will cost a lot of money to achieve, so I will bust my butt trying to achieve it.

[Abel Curiel]

Hello Matt Gehrls , I think we all need to find that motivating factor in order to push us forward when moving forward seems difficult or even impossible. I read some of the responses from the other members and I'll have to agree with them when they say that a book won't answer this question for you. I do, however, believe that a book or other useful information can guide you into finding that motivation. It could be your family, your overall quality of life, or any number of factors that motivate us.
I would like to suggest one of the BP Podcasts because it helped me with time management, structure, development of systems/processes, and helps me define my motivation each day. There is also a book written by the guest from the podcast, Hal Elrod. The Podcast is podcast #157. If you haven't already listened to it, I hope you enjoy it and I hope it helps you on this journey.

Best of luck to you!

-Abel

[Matt R.]

Originally posted by @Richard Warner:

Also, Grant Cardone is a phenomenal teacher about business, sales, career, and finance. I've been learning from him for years. He owns $400mill in apartment complexes, came from absolutely nothing.

MyGCtv.com
Or
GrantCardoneTV.com

I listen to his CardoneZone and YoungHustlers podcasts every week. He'a got tons of content. We're on his Cardone Sales University and absolutely love it, we paid $1000 when it was on sale a couple months back.

Good Luck and hope this helps you some!

 Cardone is not worth 400 million. He has done 300 to 400 million in volume. This is not not free and clear. No one publically actually knows what he is worth but we can assume based on financing this is sub 100 mil. Just point of fact for bpers. He is worth way more than most and knows how to make great mula clearly.

[Joe Splitrock]

Originally posted by @Matt R.:

Originally posted by @Richard Warner:

Also, Grant Cardone is a phenomenal teacher about business, sales, career, and finance. I've been learning from him for years. He owns $400mill in apartment complexes, came from absolutely nothing.

MyGCtv.com
Or
GrantCardoneTV.com

I listen to his CardoneZone and YoungHustlers podcasts every week. He'a got tons of content. We're on his Cardone Sales University and absolutely love it, we paid $1000 when it was on sale a couple months back.

Good Luck and hope this helps you some!

 Cardone is not worth 400 million. He has done 300 to 400 million in volume. This is not not free and clear. No one publically actually knows what he is worth but we can assume based on financing this is sub 100 mil. Just point of fact for bpers. He is worth way more than most and knows how to make great mula clearly.

 Also good to clarify that if you are uncomfortable with the concept of money as a motivation, then Grant Cardone is not for you. He spends 90% of his podcast talking about how to get more money. I think he has great ideas, but if someone feels Think and Grow Rich talks about money too much, then Grant Cardone is not your man. In fact Grant Cardone would tell the OP to not even bother listening to his show, because money is a mindset. His belief is that if you don't have your mind on your money, you will have no money.

[Richard Warner]

Calm down hotshots. We all can have motivators!
Let's not make this like facebook ;)

*also Lane K, I am currently growing and contributing but do not yet have total freedom. Therefor, freedom most definitely is not a mid-level goal for me. No need for anyone to bring anyone down.

This is supposed to be a positive post! :)
Be great everyone!

[Bhekizwe M.]

Making a difference could be why and money the scorecard to that mission/purpose