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Ten years after I started my company Intrinium, the business was generating a consistent profit. I was able to pay off debts and was living comfortably. With a good amount of discretionary income, I couldn’t help but think, “What should I do with my money?”
When I started Intrinium and thought about what success would look like, all I could picture were material things: a million dollars in the bank, a big house on a hill, and a four-car garage filled with Ferraris.
As I became able to afford some expensive things, I came to the realization that owning things doesn’t always make you happy, and owning too many things can make you very unhappy. The stuff you buy owns you, not the other way around. That’s not where your potential for real joy lies.
It’s hard to start and run a business. At times, you feel like yelling, “Why am I even bothering?!” For a long time, I didn’t know the answer to that question, but I finally figured it out. Success has huge rewards beyond the obvious ones and far beyond what you can imagine.
#1: Set Your Own Schedule
One thing that success brought me is a lifestyle that lets me set my own schedule. How many hours I work is separate from how much revenue the business earns.
Because my company is stable and has great leadership from my executive and management teams, I can say, “I’m going to spend next week in the mountains doing whatever the heck I want to do. Outside of driving into town to make a few calls, I’m not going to work.” I’m confident that when I come back to the office, I won’t be walking into chaos.
Taking the time to enjoy the fruits of your labor, instead of constantly laboring in your business, frees your mind to discover what else success can do. It allows you to improve your quality of life in many ways, but only if you take the initiative to do so.
