A common misconception is that you can become rich by simply working hard enough and having a positive attitude. While they certainty help, there are no set values, or prerequisites for success. The path to wealth is complex, but it can be simplified with vague guidelines such as: doing the little things right, saving money when you can, taking risk in order to achieve more upside, and finding your passion. Simply put, everyone’s path to achieving their utmost potential is unique.

When someone states that their goal is to be “rich and happy” they have absolutely no idea about the struggles and dedication that it takes to become wealthy. If someone’s primary motivator in life is to have a lot of money, they will never achieve that. There are no money trees to grow. Simply thinking “how can I make a ton of money?” will prove unfruitful.

People with immense wealth, or even moderate wealth, have done something that provides them with income as a measure of their value in the market, and success in their field. Top lawyers win the most cases and are trusted for their legal advice, professional athletes are paid to help a team win with their exceptional ability and skills, and great entrepreneurs have dedicated themselves to their vision and work the hardest out of any of their employees; many other successful people have developed their skills while utilizing their time in the best manner in order to reach a level of attainment they wish to have, and for those reasons, they become “rich” and usually “happy”.

So it is not only disheartening, but aggravating to see someone list that their goal in life is to become “rich and happy” with no clear plan or purpose other than to have money. Develop a passion; the money will follow.

For people who also strive to reach high levels of success we understand that we must follow our own passion and develop it as much as we can before collecting a serious reward. A perfect motto for this would be “live the life most won’t for a few years, to live the life most others can’t for the rest”. We don’t want to be “rich and happy”, we want to be great at what we do. Hopefully some money will come along the way.