When money isn't the ultimate goal

Success = money, right? Well, no, not always. One thing I've realized over the past year and a half is how nuanced and varied the definition of "success" can be.

It doesn't look the same for everyone, and it shouldn't!

Today, I was thinking about two distinct times in my career when I gave up making more money to gain other things:

1. At the beginning of my real estate career, I chose to be a solo agent instead of joining a team. I was 25 years old and very driven, wanting to build something that was just mine.

2. In 2018, my coach and I were discussing my next career move. Most agents would build a team once they got to the level of success I had, but I had another idea. I chose to help those agents who were struggling, like I had struggled. I launched Move Over Extroverts, developed The Quiet Success class, and started teaching all over New England. 

This was a financial step back, as starting something new from the ground up usually is. And it was worth it because I had a purpose greater than money: the pure joy of making a difference in other agents' lives. Seeing the relief on their faces when I told them they didn't have to knock on strangers' doors anymore. 

Money isn't bad - money is an extremely useful tool. It allows for freedom and peace. Yet there are other things worth pursuing, as well. AND of course, you can have both money and joy (stay tuned later this fall for a special workshop on how to have both at the same time).

When was a time you gave up making more money to gain something else?