The most successful business people in history saw commerce as nothing more than a game. Society has benefited greatly from that. Planes, trains, automobiles, search engines, the light bulb; money alone was not the motivating factor in these endeavors and industries.
A few nights ago, Aaron and I were discussing the businesses. I asked him what would happen if we ever had a huge, catastrophic falling out (would never happen) to the point we didn’t see each other. I inquired as to whether or not he would open an office across the hall from mine in some skyscraper and compete head to head with whatever we had been doing. He’d certainly be rich enough to start buying assets and get into any industry he wanted.
His answer surprised me and caught me completely off guard.
“Joshua”, he said, “I have neither the patience nor endurance to compete with you.”
Somewhat shocked, I managed to get out, “But why?!”
He just looked at me. “Because you wouldn’t rest until I had been destroyed. It would never end. For you, it is nothing but a game of Monopoly.”
I realized: He’s right. I never get tired because I’m not working. I’m playing. There is no such thing as burnout here. It would be more emotionally painful to get up each morning and not be able to go to work building and creating. It reminded me of something Donald Trump once said: All else being equal, the competitor who is more passionate about his industry is going to win.
You only have to get rich once and you can do it in any one of countless industries. Why make yourself miserable? If you hate the legal profession, get out of it! If you love making candles, figure out a way to make your money there. You should enjoy your day. Life is too short not to have fun every moment you can.
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I believe I read this conversation in Atlas Shrugged, albeit with different character names.