Money Matters More Than You Want to Admit

When I went off to college, my goal was to earn a degree in Broadcasting and become an on-air talent in the television business — specifically, a sports reporter with the goal of working at ESPN.

About two weeks into my freshman year, I decided against this. We had a meeting to learn about career paths, led by industry people who had been there and done that. About an hour into the meeting, I changed course.

Why? It wasn't because I'd have to move to some small town in Middle America. It wasn't because the road to ESPN would be long. It was because I was told I'd probably earn about $19,000 in my first year. 'Fuck that!' I shouted to myself and walked out the door. I changed my focus to Public Relations the next semester, and I never looked back.

Now, I can give you a story about chasing your passion and focusing on what you love, and that is adorable, but the reality is, your passions don't always pay your bills and fund your lifestyle. Unless you're Banksy. But I'm not Banksy.

Here's the thing. Money matters. It mattered to me at 18 years old. It matters to me at 42 years old. It matters in every aspect of your life. It will never not matter unless you find a way to become independently wealthy.

Money is the fuel. Money is the driver. Money is the root of everything we do, and you can't convince me otherwise. And yet I listen to people justify their reasoning every single day as to why money isn't the most important thing in their life, yet they complain about not being able to do the things they want to do, complain about their job, their boss, their opportunities, and have anxiety for the life they want to build.

Let me share two things with you: (1) We work for money. That is the sole reason. (2) See number one.

Stop apologizing each time you start to feel like you should earn more money. Stop apologizing each time you get frustrated over the idea of money. Be loud. Be proud. And be focused on how you can earn more to fund the lifestyle you want.

Consider this your wake-up call to stop apologizing, stop justifying, and stop making excuses on the topic of money. You deserve more, and you deserve to have a champion in your corner supporting you.

I have no doubt I would have eventually made it to ESPN. Maybe I would have become the next Dan Patrick or Colin Cowherd. But I had no desire to starve for a decade on my way there. I chose otherwise, and I think it all worked out.