It’s a common refrain, this idea of setting financial targets. Yet, consider the story of a man, let's call him Arthur. He sought guidance, wanting to achieve a significant monetary goal – a million dollars. Years later, he called his advisor, not in triumph, but in despair. "I earned that million yesterday," he said, "but at what cost? My family is gone, my friends are estranged, my health is failing, and legal troubles loom. This money is worthless to me now. I was misled."

This poignant example highlights a fundamental truth: money, in itself, is not a destination. For our deeper selves, the numbers blur – five thousand, five million, five billion are merely digits followed by zeros. It's incredibly challenging to genuinely motivate oneself with currency alone.

The Water in Your Boat: Money as a Tool, Not the Treasure

Think of yourself sailing in a boat. Your skills, your talents, your knowledge – these are your oars. The effort you put into rowing, your willpower, determines your speed. And the water? The water is money. It's not truly yours; even banknotes often state they are the property of a central authority. You use this water to navigate, to move forward. But you must never set your goal on the water itself, for water is ever-shifting.

Your true destination must be the shore: a desired way of life, a state of being that fulfills your deepest needs and values. Perhaps it’s a peaceful home where your loved ones thrive, the joy of children playing, or the shared adventure of exploring the world with close companions. These images, these experiences – these are real.

Certainly, a little water in the boat is necessary. We need it to drink, to cleanse, to sustain. A small amount can even provide stability. But consider the burden of too much. The person with $50 million and the one with $50 billion often live remarkably similar daily lives. The crucial difference lies in the weight. The more water you try to carry in your own vessel, the more unstable it becomes. A vast portion of your energy is then spent not on reaching the shore, but on merely transporting this heavy, sloshing load. Imagine the immense responsibility, the risks, the sheer number of processes and people one must manage with, say, ten billion. Does such a fortune bring peace? Is the possessor truly happy?

Money is, perhaps, best understood as a measure of whether what you do is needed by others. An old American book aptly suggested: if you wish to make a million, identify a need shared by millions and satisfy it. A deeper perspective might be: if you desire a million, build a business; if you aim for a billion, inspire a movement, create a lifestyle, offer new meanings. The world's most resonant brands often represent new paradigms of thought and existence.

Riding the Current: The Power of Flow

When you're on the water, you must also consider the current. Rowing against it is exhausting and often futile; you expend immense energy only to remain in the same place. Many hardworking, honest individuals find themselves in this situation, rowing diligently but making little headway because the prevailing forces are against them. Those who row in stagnant water, with no current to aid or hinder, rely solely on their own strength, and progress is slow.

The speed of a river's current is usually far greater than any speed you can generate alone. When you row with the current, its momentum adds to your own efforts, propelling you towards your goal more efficiently. This is essential not just for progress, but to keep pace with others also navigating the same waters.

This "current" or "flow" can manifest in many ways:

• Societal Momentum: Some nations or regions experience periods of intense passion and drive.
• Technological Waves: Think of advancements like artificial intelligence or virtual reality.
• Economic Climates: Certain areas foster environments conducive to business and growth.
• Influential Individuals: Some people possess an extraordinary energy, a "whirlwind" that can uplift and transform those around them. Working with such dynamic leaders, even if challenging, can be profoundly developmental. They often provoke growth rather than simply offering aid.
• Progressive Systems: Consider places where the digitalization of public services outpaces even that of private enterprise, creating uniquely efficient environments.
• Aspirational Circles: Moving within social or professional groups that are a step above your current level can be a powerful updraft. Many clubs and societies exist to connect individuals who share ambitions and values.

The most profound flows often emerge when meanings unite a group of people. Such a collective, sharing a common understanding and purpose, becomes capable of truly shaping the world. Seek to enter these spheres of shared meaning. The aim is to find a current of people who resonate with your values but are perhaps further along in experience and scale. A person's worth is often proportional to the cause for which they have accepted full responsibility. Surrounding yourself with such individuals is invaluable.

Keep Your Eyes on the Shore

The brain is a remarkable instrument, designed to optimize internal resources and attract external necessities to help you reach your chosen destination. Therefore, where you place your focus is paramount.

When kicking a ball towards a goal, you look at the goal, not the ball or your foot.

When hammering a nail, your gaze is fixed on the point where the nail should enter the wall, not on the hammer or your hand.

When you run, you look towards where you want to go, not at your feet.

Your mind will marshal all your internal strengths and draw what you need from the world to get you where you are looking. Money and success are often the natural consequences of moving purposefully towards a meaningful goal, filled with energy and applying it wisely. They are not the goal itself, but the ripples left in your wake as you steer steadfastly towards your chosen shore.

References:

• Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. Harper & Row.

  This foundational work explores the concept of "flow," a state of complete absorption in an activity. It aligns with the article's discussion of finding a "current" or "flow" in life and work, where challenges and skills are in balance, leading to optimal performance and enjoyment, often resulting in success as a byproduct rather than a direct aim. The article's metaphor of rowing with the current to add speed and efficiency resonates with Csikszentmihalyi's description of how flow states enhance performance.

• Frankl, V. E. (1959). Man's Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.

  Frankl's work emphasizes that the primary human drive is not pleasure, but the pursuit of what we find meaningful. This supports the article's core argument that goals should not be monetary but focused on a "way of life" or purpose ("setting your goal only on the shore"). The story of the millionaire who lost everything but money illustrates Frankl's point that a lack of meaning can lead to despair, regardless of external success. (Particularly, the discussions on Logotherapy and the will to meaning are relevant).

• Grant, A. (2013). Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success. Viking Press.

  While not solely about money, this book argues that success is often found by those who contribute value to others ("givers") rather than those who solely aim to extract value ("takers"). This supports the idea in the article that "Money is a measure of whether what you do is needed by someone else" and the adage "if you want to make a million, find a need that millions have and satisfy it." The principle is that focusing on providing value (the "shore") can lead to financial rewards (the "water" in the boat) as a consequence. (Chapter 1 and discussions on givers, takers, and matchers are particularly relevant).