The older I get, and the more money I earn, the more I understand that lasting fulfillment doesn’t come from reaching a specific net worth or retiring early (which I believed back then). It comes from genuinely loving the journey and finding purpose in the work itself. The people who stay motivated after "making it" aren’t only driven by status or money. They keep going because they’re passionate about what they do. Think Bezos, Zuck, Messi, Ronaldo, etc. They have unlimited money, but still keep going. They still feel they have tasks, goals, and "problems" yet to solve. Real financial freedom isn’t about quitting the game altogether. It’s having the flexibility to spend your time on things that excite and challenge you, free from external pressure. If you notice your drive slipping, take time to reconnect with your deeper "why" or look for new pursuits that genuinely inspire you. The goal should always be to find meaning, growth, and joy in your day-to-day.

There are so many insanely cool things to do in this world I feel like I could spend 100 lifetimes doing them and still not have enough time...

Real man

Well said, my friend. This really matters - and the longer I stay in this space, the more I just want to create value, do, write, and build things that I truly enjoy and believe are meaningful and useful. Everyone I know from other fields who has real long-term success - they’re people who genuinely love what they do and are endlessly immersed in it.