So… I once had someone with a red face shout at me, “Cash is King!” (Ex-partner, anyone?…)
Knew in that moment, that was simply wrong. Just wasn’t sure why….
But twenty years on, in the lovely position of having been chosen one of the top 20 women leaders in the UK, I do know. Would like to pull this concept apart a bit with you. Because it’s out there – everywhere. Loads of people believe it.
Are you one of them?
If so – I just suggest this to you. Test it out. Get curious. Be scientific. Examine. Look at the evidence. Have a good hard look around you at the lives of people who believe that cash actually is king, and track their trajectory over time. (Trashy gossip magazines are great for this kind of thing. Love a good trashy mag, me. Don’t even pretend that I just picked it up at the dentist. Actually buy them. Don’t tell anyone).
Enquire of the people who have pursued money (or fame, for that matter) to the exclusion of everything else, and ask yourself – Are they happy? Do they have the life that you want? Would you really want to be like them?
Or, (particularly if you’re a new entrepreneur, or dreaming about starting your own business) should you consider the possibility that if you climb the ladder in pursuit of this concept, YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF AT THE TOP OF THE WRONG WALL.
Just going to put it right out there – cash is NOT king. Money is great, but it’s a by-product of something else entirely.
By-product of what?
A by-product of your business. (BTW this applies to you whether or not you are running your own company, or are self-employed. No matter what your job status – you are the CEO of your own life. The creator of your own personal brand!)
So – What is your business?! (Now THIS is the right question to ask!!)
Your business is the intersection of four things:
- What you love,
- What you’re good at
- What the world needs and
- What you can make money doing.
(Wish I could take credit for making this up – but didn’t. Called ikigai, brilliant Japanese concept).
Your business has to be the intersection of all four of these things. You can’t leave any of them out. Why not?
Because if you only do something you love – fun! But it’s a hobby, not a business.
If you only do something you’re good at, it’s just a vocation. No passion there to see you through over the long-term.
If you only do something the world needs, it’s a mission. Admirable, but you won’t make a living.
And if you only do something you can get paid for – it’s a profession. Nice and cash-y, but you will burn out over time.
See? It has to be all four.
Good, hard, productive effort, working at something that you love, that you’re good at, that the world needs, and that you can make money doing. That’s what will make you happy. Not loads of leisure time, or loads or cash, or loads of … anything really!
The joy is in the doing.
Find that thing – that area of fascination – that makes you want to get up early and stay up late. And then you’ll never work a day in your life – because it will all feel like play. It’s fascinating. People will try to stop you doing it, and they won’t be able to! (Yes Rich, I’m coming, just shutting down the computer now, promise…) And if you pursue that thing, to the highest possible standard, with all your passion and determination, you will also make money. It just comes along with the meal, like a nice side salad that’s included.
Promise! I’ve been there, got the t-shirt and lived to tell the tale.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this – let me know…
Hugs,
Shann.x
Shann Jones MBE
Founder/Director Chuckling goat
