As I was going to work one morning, I started to think about incentives. I recalled reading a book last year on leadership. One section in the book describes different types of people and what they seek intrinsically when they go to work. Some of the kinds of people introduced in the book wanted more money, more responsibility, or just wanted to be recognized. What type of person are you?

Though you might be incentivized in multiple ways, there is one that seems to trump the rest, and that is money and dreams. They say “money talks” and that“ money makes the world go around.” I think the love and desire for money have become unhealthy. I want everyone to have enough to feed themselves, take care of their business, and living in the moment of life. Sadly, greed can take over and blind us. We get so blinded and one-tracked while chasing this carrot. In this blog, let us talk about how money and dreams can be the carrot in front of our eyes and learn how not to let it distract us from reaching greatness.

One of the biggest motivators for people is money. They might have just changed jobs and are now in a new job making more money than before. This is always fine at first, but the shine wears off quickly. Money doesn’t remain the focal point, even though all your bills are now being paid, and you can afford iced lattes all week. We start to want more, so we dream about a new carrot.

The biggest carrot in the USA today is the lotto. That small piece of paper has so many people’s dreams attached to it that Martin Luther King would have a run for his money. People often believe that all their troubles will disappear if they win the lotto. They could buy whatever they wanted and have more than they could ever spend. The sad truth is that many people lose all their winnings because that drive for money also leads to a drive to “spend.”

Money management is the first step to freeing yourself from this monetary incentive. They say the rich get richer, and the poor don’t learn because of bad choices with money. We get a paycheck, and that check is gone by the end of the week. The rat race has never felt so real for middle and lower-class society today. Luckily, there is a saving grace in all this chaos. That saving grace is the dreams and reality we all have in us.

That dream inside us is the dream of our most fabulous self. This is the success you seek to attain in life. It doesn’t have to be much, but it has to be personal to you. You have to find your reason or your purpose and do that. If your job does not light you up each day, it might tear you down. Success can be determined, but you must do it from a place of love and know your limitations. If someone has more or less than you, do not compare yourself to that person. If you do, it can lead to a comparison trap and negative spiral that will inhibit growth and you will not be living in the moment. I know that I am my own unique person, and only I can define who I am, so do not let someone else success define you.

The hand we were dealt with is the hand we must use. We might not win every hand, but we can fake it until we make it. The most important thing to realize is that time is of the essence. Today or tomorrow is not promised to us, but we tend to live like it is. We plan for the future but forget to live in the moment. What would happen if you lived your most dare-devilish life possible today? I like to ask myself, “What would I do if I could not fail?” That question allows me to go into my doubts and ignore all the negatives and only focus on the positives. Dreams are built on that positivity, and failure dwells in doubt.

Often we consider failure as something negative, but it can be the start of our most extraordinary life. Failure can either lead to lessons or depression. The lessons will allow you to learn from what went wrong and work on other methods to get it right. It is OK to fail, and no one will fault you for trying and giving it your all. The moment you give up is when you give into fear, and that failure wins. It is ok to accept that something won’t happen, but to give up entirely will delay, if not fully deter, you from your most fabulous self.

Your strengths and vision should be at the forefront of what makes you move so that even the mightiest warrior would be cautious before approaching you. Education, in my eyes, is perhaps the most squandered or overlooked resource. “The pen is mightier than the swords” – Edward Bulwer-Lytton. This quote has so much meaning behind it, but the takeaway is that the things we learn can be used for our benefit. We are all unique and can leverage our knowledge for something great. So while your friend sits next to you complaining about their job, not having enough, or spending frivolously, I want you to remember that your carrot is your greatness, not their concerns.

That greatness is within you already. You might have to dig before genuinely seeing it for what it is worth. Being a leader in this world will require you to be brave and dare to defy all odds. We often daydream of the life we could have instead of putting in the work now to get us to that place. The next time you dream of a better life, I want you to write it down. Write on top of that paper “Goals.” Now, you can begin the process of chasing that dream. Whether it be money, fame, love, or power, you can attain it. Just remember that placing happiness in the future will make you miserable today. So make sure to love every moment, even the bad. You will start to notice that your journey will be more enjoyable and that life has a newfound glory. Money can be your carrot, but do not let greed be your dream.

Until then,

Michael Rearden

Founder of Reven Concepts