So, I have been thinking a lot about money lately. Not in the “how do I get more” way, but more like, “what the hell is this stuff, really?” And the more I think about it, the more I realize that we, as a society, have some seriously messed up ideas about money. We are taught that it is the root of all evil, or that chasing it is somehow shallow. But I am starting to see it differently. I am starting to see that maybe, just maybe, money is not the bad guy we have made it out to be.

Think about it this way: the money you have, the cash in your bank account, is actually a physical representation of the value you have added to the world. It is like a receipt for all the problems you have solved for other people. Every time you get paid, whether it is your monthly salary or a freelance gig, it is the world saying, “Hey, thanks for that thing you did. Here is a token of our appreciation.” And that token, that money, is incredibly useful. You can trade it for things you need, sure, but you can also use it to help other people. You can support your family, give to a cause you care about, or even just treat your friends to a nice dinner. It is such a flexible instrument, this money thing. You can move it around, transfer it to your kids, invest it – it is like an extension of your own ability to do good in the world.

Taxes and Inflation

And yeah, lets talk about taxes for a second. Nobody loves paying them, but when you think about it, taxes are kind of like the government, acting on behalf of society, saying, “Hey, you were able to create all that value thanks to the roads, the schools, the legal system, all the stuff we built together. So, we need a share of that value to keep the whole thing running.” It is a necessary part of the equation, even if it hurts a little.

Even inflation, that annoying thing that makes everything more expensive, is not necessarily a bad thing. It is actually the world’s way of saying, “Hey, the problems you solved ten years ago are not as pressing anymore, hence the value you accumulated by solving them is degrading over time. Time to level up and tackle some new challenges.” It is kind of a built-in obsolescence for value, which might sound harsh, but it keeps us innovating. It keeps us striving to find new ways to contribute.

Wealth and Impact

And if you are making more money now than you used to, that is not something to feel guilty about. It just means you are solving bigger, more important problems. You are adding more value, and the world is recognizing that. Sure, there are exceptions, and the system is not perfect, but generally speaking, more money equals more impact.

And what about when you have enough? When you have got the money that lets you do whatever you want? Well, that is the world’s way of saying you have done your part. You have added enough value. Now you can focus on things that might not make you rich, but that make you happy. Maybe it is painting, or writing, or just spending more time with your kids. You have earned the right to choose your own adventure.

I know some people get rich by just owning stuff, like real estate, stocks or joining an early stage startup. But even then, they took a risk, didn’t they? They put their money/career on the line, betting on a particular outcome. They believed that a certain piece of land or a certain company would be valuable in the future, and they were right. They were early to see the potential, and they got rewarded for it. Just like owning that plot of land in a now booming neighborhood. It seems like luck now, but you made a call, took a risk and the world agreed with you later.

Now, here is the triky part. What about people who dedicate their lives to service, but don not make a lot of money? The volunteer who works tirelessly for a cause they believe in. The doctor who chooses to work in an underserved community, foregoing a huge salary. The government employee dedicating their career to public service. Are they not adding value?

Of course they are. They are doing incredibly important work. But the money they earn, or do not earn, in those roles is still a reflection of the value the world, as it currently operates, places on that work. It might be that the world simply can not afford to pay more for those services right now, or it might be that the systems in place undervalue certain types of contributions. In those cases these folks might be choosing to forego their own financial gain for the benefit of others and I call it charity. I have huge respect for that, but I also believe that charity should be something you do in addition to, not instead of, pursuing work that generates significant financial value, unless you are already well off. Why? Because if you are constantly struggling to make ends meet, you are limiting your potential impact. Also, it suggets you are not innovating or finding ways to build systems that let you make that work stream financially viable. You are not fully utilizing your talents to solve the problems the world is most willing to pay for, and you might not be able to contribute as much to those charitable causes in the long run.

So, here is the bottom line: money is not the enemy. It is not the goal, either. It is just a tool, a damn useful one. It is a way of keeping score, a way of measuring the value you bring to the world in the current system. It is important to acknowledge that this system is not perfect. It has biases and inequities that can unfairly advantage some and disadvantage others. But even within this imperfect system, the money you earn is often a reflection of the problems you are solving and the impact you are making. It is a reflection of you, of your contribution to this crazy, beautiful world we live in. And that, my friends, is a pretty damn good feeling.

Disclaimer: https://vinaysachdeva.com/disclaimer/. The opinions expressed in the blog post are my own and do not reflect the view(s) of my employer.