The Moral Case for Making Money

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the moral case for founders to make money and the tension between altruistic desires and the pursuit of wealth. It addresses two main questions: 1) Is it bad if I want to make a lot of money? and 2) Is it bad if I don't want to make a lot of money?

🙋 Q&A

[01] Is it bad if I want to make a bunch of money?

1. Questions related to the content of the section?

• The article argues that there is a moral stigma against money and wealth in our culture, which many founders have internalized to their detriment.
• The author believes that wealth creation is a valid and healthy goal for founders, as money can be used to build and fund ambitious projects that create value.
• The article suggests that founding a company is not "really about the money," but money is tightly coupled to the rapid scale that defines startups.
• The author provides the example of a seasoned founder who is upfront about his primary goal being wealth creation, but who is also deeply motivated by creating value and solving problems in innovative ways.
• The article cautions against pathological relationships with money, such as pursuing short-term gains over the long-term health of the business, but argues that these can be corrected by re-orienting towards the broader goal of building one's best life.

[02] Is it bad if I don't want to make a bunch of money?

1. Questions related to the content of the section?

• The article acknowledges that many people act as if they should want to make a lot of money, even if it's not their true desire.
• The author suggests that this belief often stems from status- or fear-based motivations, rather than a clear vision for the kind of life one wants to build.
• The article encourages readers to consider their personal goals, circumstances, and tradeoffs when deciding how much wealth they want to pursue.
• It notes that the most common routes to making large sums of money (sales and management) may not align with everyone's interests or strengths.
• The key is to prioritize and make active choices that move one's "life-building project" in the desired direction, regardless of whether that involves pursuing wealth or not.