I agree, and it's interesting to see the resistance around here. I think a lot of people don't really want to take a hard look at their own motivations because they're afraid they might not like what they see. I don't think the illusion of money-driven happiness is at all limited to the startup world. The rat race exists in a whole lot of other careers too--law, medicine, engineering, finance, showbiz, and so on.
I think most people chase money based on the perception that it will raise them to some higher plane of existence. But the reality is that every time you break into some new level, there's always just another level waiting above you, enticing you to double down. This article has a strong point: instead of chasing abstract advancement, figure out what it <i>actually is</i> that you want, <i>and then</i> strategize how to get it. And better yet, strategize how you can enjoy the journey. You might actually achieve definitive satisfaction that way and also be able to look back on your life and not feel as though half of it was spent in an unfulfilling chase.
I think most people chase money based on the perception that it will raise them to some higher plane of existence. But the reality is that every time you break into some new level, there's always just another level waiting above you, enticing you to double down. This article has a strong point: instead of chasing abstract advancement, figure out what it <i>actually is</i> that you want, <i>and then</i> strategize how to get it. And better yet, strategize how you can enjoy the journey. You might actually achieve definitive satisfaction that way and also be able to look back on your life and not feel as though half of it was spent in an unfulfilling chase.