Have you ever wondered exactly WHY people love to pursue money-making business opportunities?

17 replies
I have a theory and an opinion on it.

Is it for a need? For a want? Or for a desire?

Usually, it's for all of those.

Individuals, like yourself, wishing ... dreaming ... pursuing opportunities just to make money. But let me tell you something that no other "experts" will tell you.

It's NOT about the money. And if ANYBODY tells you that it is, call them a liar to their face.

IF it was ONLY about making money, they could easily get another - or better - j-o-b.

No. People pursue money-making business opportunities because ...

They're seeking the freedom to do what they wish ... when they wish. Because almost ANYONE can make money but ... if you can't enjoy the freedom to do whatever you want, then what's the point.

Instead of getting another - or better - j-o-b to chase money, start chasing freedom.

Freedom to take vacations whenever, and wherever, you want.

Freedom to work as much, or as little, as you want.

Freedom to take time off.

Freedom to spend more time with your family.

Freedom to give yourself a raise at any time.

Whatever business opportunity you're pursuing, you should focus on that as equally as you would on how much money you could make.

Any thoughts?
#business #love #moneymaking #opportunities #people #pursue #wondered
  • Profile picture of the author Jreed
    yeah, I think most understand that. It's about selling benefits not features. It's not about the money it's what the money can do.

    Money is the feature, freedom (and other things) is the benefit.

    Tell them the features but sell them the benefits.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      Amwarner,

      As JReed stated, most people who are trying to start a business well understand that focusing on the money alone is a losing proposition. No matter how much you amass, it never seems to be enough as there are always new things to buy and new ways to show off your success.

      You stated, "start chasing freedom." I find that a pretty poor strategy for changing your life and finding the time to do what you really want.

      I would like to ask, just how do you chase freedom? What is going to give you freedom better or faster than having the money you need to take care of all your expenses?

      Some chase freedom by shedding all their worldly possessions and entanglements. They become minimalists and subsist with no income and no expenses. I personally don't see the advantage to that lifestyle.

      I personally don't believe that a person should be "chasing" anything. If you want an abundant life where you have the time to pursue the things you want, why not spend your time in doing that and figure out a way to make money to pay the bills while you are following your passion?

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author agmccall
        Freedom is not FREE

        So, it basically is about the money, weather you want to admit it or not.

        al
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        "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison

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      • Profile picture of the author amwarner
        Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

        Amwarner,

        As JReed stated, most people who are trying to start a business well understand that focusing on the money alone is a losing proposition. No matter how much you amass, it never seems to be enough as there are always new things to buy and new ways to show off your success.

        You stated, "start chasing freedom." I find that a pretty poor strategy for changing your life and finding the time to do what you really want.

        I would like to ask, just how do you chase freedom? What is going to give you freedom better or faster than having the money you need to take care of all your expenses?

        Some chase freedom by shedding all their worldly possessions and entanglements. They become minimalists and subsist with no income and no expenses. I personally don't see the advantage to that lifestyle.

        I personally don't believe that a person should be "chasing" anything. If you want an abundant life where you have the time to pursue the things you want, why not spend your time in doing that and figure out a way to make money to pay the bills while you are following your passion?

        Steve
        I agree with you. But so many people are caught up with chasing freedom because they constantly hear people talking about "Chasing the American Dream" and this and that.

        I chased money making opportunities a few years ago STRICTLY because I wanted the money. And made alot of mistakes, took alot of personal losses because of that decision.

        I believe that people need to follow their passions more however they see opportunities that they could get money easily, and they they to pursue that instead.

        It is a losing proposition.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lynn Terry
    When I started my first business almost 17 years ago, it WAS about money. I was married and we had four children between us, and I was the only one holding a job. I had no formal education, earned $6/hour (family of 6!!) and my husband was out of work. We both had no-compete agreements against us as well.

    The house was rented, the car was always breaking down, and we were barely making ends meet - with no "way out" in sight. That was when there were only five of us - then my daughter came along.

    There was no "freedom" aspect to it. I worked around the clock, sold everything we owned, busted my butt, and got a business off the ground. We went from a poverty level family to a successful six figure business in the first full year.

    Mind you there was a lot of overhead with the physical location, tons of hours, and I worked harder then than I ever did at my job!

    After my husband left, my son became incredibly ill. I had a second business & location by then, and had to shut it down to work from a home office because I had to home school him for a few years. My focus was survival, and on figuring out how to be a full time parent and provide for the children at the same time.

    The freedom, flexibility, and all the other perks - came as a result of the hard work invested.

    Saturday September 21st is World Gratitude Day. I am extremely grateful to live in a time where technology afforded me the opportunity to have the lifestyle I do now!
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    • Profile picture of the author Jreed
      You gave many reason's why you wanted the money. People want money for many different reason's, not always for freedom.

      But money is still not the end goal. It was what you could do with the money that caused you to go after it.

      Congrats on your success by the way.
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    • Profile picture of the author amwarner
      Originally Posted by Lynn Terry View Post

      When I started my first business almost 17 years ago, it WAS about money. I was married and we had four children between us, and I was the only one holding a job. I had no formal education, earned $6/hour (family of 6!!) and my husband was out of work. We both had no-compete agreements against us as well.

      The house was rented, the car was always breaking down, and we were barely making ends meet - with no "way out" in sight. That was when there were only five of us - then my daughter came along.

      There was no "freedom" aspect to it. I worked around the clock, sold everything we owned, busted my butt, and got a business off the ground. We went from a poverty level family to a successful six figure business in the first full year.

      Mind you there was a lot of overhead with the physical location, tons of hours, and I worked harder then than I ever did at my job!

      After my husband left, my son became incredibly ill. I had a second business & location by then, and had to shut it down to work from a home office because I had to home school him for a few years. My focus was survival, and on figuring out how to be a full time parent and provide for the children at the same time.

      The freedom, flexibility, and all the other perks - came as a result of the hard work invested.

      Saturday September 21st is World Gratitude Day. I am extremely grateful to live in a time where technology afforded me the opportunity to have the lifestyle I do now!
      Thank you for sharing that ... it's really inspirational and totally justified.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lynn Terry
    Thank you, and I agree. For me it was about providing for my family when there were no other means. Survival first, Lifestyle came second. *cheers*
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  • Profile picture of the author ronrule
    If you're already living the lifestyle you want and you're spending less than you make, it's about the money. Not every deal will affect your quality of life - sometimes you don't need every dollar you make. But you still want to make it.
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    Ron Rule
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  • Profile picture of the author ronrule
    About ten years ago when I was selling advertising to business owners, the ones who couldn't afford it would always say "It's not the money, I just don't think it will be that effective". I would say "If I ran your ad for free, would you be interested in then?" They always said "Yes" ... so I would snap back "Then it's the money." and start negotiating.
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    Ron Rule
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  • Profile picture of the author Defacto
    No, it's about the money.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jreed
      Lol, If I could have everything I wanted in life without money, then money would be irrelevant.

      It's not about the money. Even if you don't want to admit it.

      I like money just as much as the next person, in fact I think I like it more than most.

      But it's not the money it's what the money provides and what it provides is different for different people.

      If you woke up and your money had no value and the only thing that had trade value was cottage cheese, I bet you'd be a milk curdling fool. lol:p
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  • Profile picture of the author Tsnyder
    Money is an abstract concept. Money is actually worthless
    until it's converted into the things that make up the reasons
    why you want to earn money.

    Seriously... who wants to earn money just so they can sit
    in their living room with money scattered all over the floor so
    they can look at it?

    The only value in money is the ability to trade it for your dreams.

    Do yourself a favor... have dreams that require lots of money. It's really
    not any more difficult than dreams that require little, or nothing.

    The bigger your why... the bigger your checks will be.
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    If you knew what I know you'd be doing what I do...
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  • Profile picture of the author Meta Morph
    To me there are two types of approaches to this problem depending on your income level. First, you can come from a poor background, from which you will value money highly as your only source of salvation...and you will do whatever it takes to get it...working long hours, busting your hump, all of that good stuff.

    Then there's the mindset of a person who has already been accumulating enough money to live on for many years. They look at money differently. They don't need more of it to survive as they've seemingly always had "enough". So then you get this shift in perspective which focuses your attention away from money and on the real business of life...passion, or what you really want to do.

    To my mind, you can't really focus as much on your passion when you're living paycheck to paycheck and the rents due and bills are piling up...notice that I said "as much"...for those people it's about the money.

    When you no longer need to worry about money, it's not about the money any more...It's about doing something really worthwhile with your life....At least that's how I see it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jreed
      Originally Posted by Meta Morph View Post

      To my mind, you can't really focus as much on your passion when you're living paycheck to paycheck and the rents due and bills are piling up...notice that I said "as much"...for those people it's about the money.

      When you no longer need to worry about money, it's not about the money any more...It's about doing something really worthwhile with your life....At least that's how I see it.

      True words, however I still disagree that it's about money for these people.

      It's still about what the money can do for them. For them it's more about escaping poverty, having a place to live, feeding their kids, being happy and stress free.

      That's why they want the money, not for the money itself.
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    "...exactly WHY people love to pursue money-making business opportunities?"

    Is this a trick question?
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