Ask HN: How do you regain motivation after achieving financial success?

#1

Post by xoxoy » Sun, Nov 08, 2020, 9:34 PM UTC

I got lucky at a few startups in my mid-20s and now in my early 30s feeling a profound loss of motivation to continue working or developing a career after achieving a comfortable worry-free level of financial success.

Perhaps part of it is that I’m not that motivated by either money or status or power.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and how did you deal with it to find motivation again?

Re: Ask HN: How do you regain motivation after achieving financial success?

#2

Post by minblaster » Sun, Nov 08, 2020, 10:07 PM UTC

Why do you feel the need to chase what other people consider success? Live life on your own terms.

Re: Ask HN: How do you regain motivation after achieving financial success?

#3

Post by tikej » Sun, Nov 08, 2020, 10:13 PM UTC

Search for what brings you satisfaction. Maybe its some obscure scientific stuff, some weird compiler work or something as simple as beer brewing or gardening. Experiment, hack, enjoy the process. Try a lot of things and find what you are passionate about. Not necessarily one thing, switch often and return to previously dropped things. You are in wonderful position to explore all interesting things in life without worrying about finances.

Re: Ask HN: How do you regain motivation after achieving financial success?

#4

Post by giantg2 » Sun, Nov 08, 2020, 11:10 PM UTC

I'm losing motivation, but I'm not successful. I can't wait until I am successful enough to quit. If you're that successful, then I'd say you should quit and pursue other interests such as hobbies or a healthy lifestyle change.

Re: Ask HN: How do you regain motivation after achieving financial success?

#5

Post by dave_sid » Sun, Nov 08, 2020, 11:28 PM UTC

Give your money to me and start again.

Re: Ask HN: How do you regain motivation after achieving financial success?

#6

Post by ApolloRising » Sun, Nov 08, 2020, 11:37 PM UTC

I don't think you just got lucky, I think you got unbelievably lucky, Maybe make new startups and get others lucky? Did you found the other startups or did you just happen to be working there? I only ask because maybe you are burned out after starting a few?

Re: Ask HN: How do you regain motivation after achieving financial success?

#7

Post by friendlybus » Sun, Nov 08, 2020, 11:49 PM UTC

Find your highest good. You have the means to pursue it.

Re: Ask HN: How do you regain motivation after achieving financial success?

#8

Post by codingdave » Sun, Nov 08, 2020, 11:50 PM UTC

This may some like I am over-simplifying it, but if you don't need to work either for financial or ambition reasons, do something else. Learn something, make something. Volunteer. Found a non-profit to try to help out a cause you believe in. Go study a topic that interests you. If you don't have any interests, start reading about all varieties of things until something sparks an interest.

Re: Ask HN: How do you regain motivation after achieving financial success?

#9

Post by datenhorst » Mon, Nov 09, 2020, 12:16 AM UTC

Why would you want to find the motivation to "develop a career" if you neither have to nor have the motivation for it? You are free to do what fulfills you, makes you happy.

Personally, I'm a Basketball coach for 8-12 yo kids twice a week. I wish I could devote more resources towards it, since it truly is the most rewarding experience I have on a day-to-day basis, but a man's gotta pay the bills.

Re: Ask HN: How do you regain motivation after achieving financial success?

#10

Post by pmiller2 » Mon, Nov 09, 2020, 12:24 AM UTC

"Motivation for what?" is the question. If you've got enough money, properly invested, such that you don't need another job, then, this is not the question you should be asking. Ask yourself "What is the thing I would most like to be doing now?" and "What could I be doing now that would have the most impact?"

These are both kind of vague questions, but that's because you have to answer them for yourself. If the answers are the same, then you have a goal to work for that will probably motivate you quite well. If the answers are different, then you can decide based on whatever feels best for you.

You might also consider posting in some of the FIRE-related forums, particularly on Reddit. There are some good resources there, not the least of which is the community of people who can tell you how they approached questions like this in their lives.