I am demotivated to work to earn more money
My current salary is 42LPA. I am from IIT, have 7 years of experience and work in product. Honestly, my value in the market is higher than what I’m being paid but I am very demotivated to optimise for that. When I do see less deserving people minting more money, I feel that I am doing injustice to myself and playing the wrong hand. More and more though, the thought of earning more money chokes me a bit. I have dreams of building something of my own - that gives me control to build something my way and freedom to live my life as per my terms. But the mindset of “zyada paisa pareshaani hai” doesn’t leave me. My family also is not dependent on me and whatever is needed from my side, I actively contribute to. I also lack any motivation to focus on my investments and see my money grow. I just have money sitting around in my bank account purely for nothing I also look at my lifestyle choices from time to time and go into existential debate of why we need the things that we do. This has come to a point where I really do not understand my relationship with money and why we earn and spend it. For me at this point, it’s just a show for the world. There’s very little that you need, and really no limit to what you want to show. And I just don’t see a point in it anymore.
Kunjamin
Stealth
a year ago
What's your perceived market value that's causing you so much distress?
Hungryninja
Stealth
a year ago
My peers are earning 55-70.
Kunjamin
Stealth
a year ago
I can empathise with you. Do you have any hobbies? Things you do to switch off and occupy yourself completely, while losing track of time?
There's no real point to money and at the same time, it's one of the most important things around which our society is structured. You won't find answers on grapevine of all places. I'd be happy to recommend some books if you'd like.
If you don't want to make more, don't. If you want to start your own thing, work weekends to throw up something on bubble.io and ask friends for feedback.
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Hey @Hungryninja
Extremely relatable and very beautiful write up
I get the trouble you face. When you’ve almost figured out what you like and what you don’t like (that money isn’t thaaat needle moving, I have basic needs) but at the same time, the opportunity cost of relaxing is too high - everybody from your batch will remind you of how far you can go, and the middle class boy in you will find it difficult to stomach letting go of all the money, even though you can make it
Went through this at one point. I have ultimately sided with money. I cannot sit back and relax. Money will only unlock a lot of foreign travel and good lifestyle for me. But more than that, I am lucky to be in a position that allows me to earn money easier than other people do. So I’ll make it, help extended family and people who cannot earn as easily, because at least in a country like India, it’s almost a responsibility. We’re not fucking Europe.
I’ll just not kill myself for it as much as I used to :)
But also, if the last point does not relate to you that much, you should stick to taking it slightly easy
But just completely own it. Don’t be caught being in the middle for too long, the middle is always the worst place to be.
Hungryninja
Stealth
a year ago
Thanks for this compassionate message. Really helped me widen my perspective. Really liked “the middle is always the worst place to be” :)
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Deadshot99
Stealth
a year ago
It feels less like rant / demotivation message, more of showoff saying I earn this much and enjoy life to fullest.
Hungryninja
Stealth
a year ago
Maybe. It’s sad though that I feel perplexed with this thought.
Don’t you feel that jumping ranks and getting more package is the way people think of progressing in their career? Or is my understanding incorrect?
Kunjamin
Stealth
a year ago
That's a sad way to look at a career. Sure, with promotions and money, you can count yourself as a great professional. But there's millions of people like that who stand for nothing. Maybe work for shit you believe in?
By the things that you’ve listed, you’re exactly where you deserve to be. The whole “less deserving people making more” is cope. And it seems like you’ve accepted defeat. It’s okay, nothing wrong with that - but stop vilifying people who actually want to do something with their lives.
Hungryninja
Stealth
a year ago
Wow that hurt.
I might have been wrong in writing the less deserving people thing, but you do get what you ask for. When I feel that money is a problem, asking for more becomes an internal issue.
Writing all of this also doesn’t mean that I do not want to do anything with my life - just that my purpose is maybe not to earn more money which is the socially acceptable answer really.
You can also try to be a little compassionate, it took me some courage to accept my feelings about money and write on an anonymous platform too. Nothing really for me to gain here by secretly boasting.
CurlyExport
Stealth
a year ago
Welcome to the world of 'what is my purpose'
From a young age, we have always been pushed. In school, get into IIT. in college, get into MBA, and after that get a good job.
Now once everything has been done, and every box has been checked, we are wondering what the hell are we really here, in this world, to do ?
This is the mid life crisis, that is now coming earlier. This is not a easy question to answer, 'what do I want to do'
Suggest trying out different things, see what you like, what you enjoy. Try reading some philosphy also, to know how others thought of this
Node
Stealth
a year ago
Humblebrag
Elix
Stealth
a year ago
Buddy, you are doing fine. Been in your situation before.
My 2 cents:
1. Stay hungry, stay competitive. companies/ recruiters judge you with your price tag. Bridging gaps can take years
2. Make money work. Needs, situations change. One must correct the obvious fallacies. More money is always better than less money. Do basic investments
3. Start your own as soon as you have enough conviction. Opportunity cost and barriers only increase with time
Hungryninja
Stealth
a year ago
How did you become okay with point 1 and 2? These are the exact two things that I get stuck in.
Elix
Stealth
a year ago
1. Worked in an org where people got crazy esops, only to realise that over years, that amounted to a few crores. Now as my needs grow, I obviously repent having less money
2. Assets become more expensive over time. You realise the pinch when you money is not growing as per inflation and then it starts pinching
AshK07
Stealth
a year ago
Do not understand this line : " when I see less deserving people minting more money " . Where is this superiority coming from? Sure , luck is a big factor but there are others who work hard and deserve it .
By this logic i can say this.
I earn less than you with 8.5 years of experience but I'm not into product management, and honestly I feel PMs are quite overpaid and don't really add value .especially places where I have worked at. hence , you are also not deserving from MY perspective . Now what ?
Money is an enabler and if you feel you have enough focus on other things .I use this framework to measure my life : happiness is a function of wealth , fitness, family and friends. (Maybe add travel or any other hobbies ). set goals across each of these. when you look back , just do not look back at the growth in wealth. Look at other things as well.
maybe add meditation as a goal. maybe add talking for atleast 2 hours per week with your parents as a goal. maybe add calling close group of friends every week as a goal. Obviously, add physical fitness as a goal.
When you look at life from a broader perspective you will realise that there are many other goals that you can aim for other than wealth and startups.
avarava
Stealth
a year ago
This is a very IIT thing. I have come across a number of IITans having similar thoughts. Are you ultra competitive and is it that your perceived relative success vis a vis your peers is at the root of your consternations? You said that you want to build your own thing. What is preventing you from directing your energy towards it. Try to use your money to bootstrap your product.
Hungryninja
Stealth
a year ago
Yeah I think so. The salary comparison though is more about the market valuing me as a deserving candidate. Maybe I am thinking too much about it as well!
Bro, what I can tell from above is that you're full of shit.
I make the same amount of money as you do, and I'm not from any IIT, but I'm grateful for what God has given me. This amount is enough to lead a good life.
Let me ask you some things:
Have you ever donated money?
Given food to hungry?
Organized langar in temples?
Donated blankets to homeless?
Done seva in temples?
Miserable people are never happy. Miserable people think happiness means a fatter paycheck.
If you want to compare your paycheck to someone's then why not compare with that of Ambani's? When is this dick measuring contest going to end?
What you need need is not a bigger paycheck but an open mind.
Go out and spend some money on someone in need. Buy gifts for your family and relatives. Do this and you'll know happiness.
Don't be a miser, be a giver.
Wow, surprised and happy+great to see so many mature replies unlike the absolutely immature retarded ones on Fishbowl. Guess I'll be visiting here more often then..
ffnn
Stealth
10 days ago
That's true, the quality of replies here are top notch. Really good crowd gathering here at GW so far. I hope it never becomes Quora.
No IIT tag here but I had a very similar feeling a few months ago. I took a break and figured out my relationship with work and money. It has been a beautiful journey.
I wrote about it here. Not trying to promote my article lol but I do want to share my thoughts -
I struggled with the trade-offs between making money and making an impact in the business world. Seeing some of my networks achieve success in both areas left me confused and frustrated. To address this, I decided to focus on financial growth while working for relevant businesses. Eventually, I realized that both goals were achievable and that there was meaning in every action we take. The depth lies not only in what we do but in how and why we do it.
If money is not a challenge then just focus all your attention towards what engages your brain the maximum. You’ll get paid your worth or more anyway.
Hungryninja
Stealth
a year ago
I’m glad you took out the time to ponder on this and get an answer for yourself. Can you share the link to you post?
Sure here you go - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/anujkhanna93_workmatters-designyourlife-personalfulfillment-activity-7049269914154536960-fbyq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios
Very likely, your dopamine and serotonin balance is off. At 42LPA with 7 years after IIT, you’re doing okay. Not great, not bad. It could’ve been worse, pat yourself on the back.
This post has a patronising tone, I apologise for that. Didn’t have enough motivation to take the tone out. If you can look past it, there’s good advice here.
Now, to the actual advice. Try some of these things:
* Learn to spend money well. That means going from “i like coffee” to “I know with single estate and which blends I prefer”. Put in the effort to reach there.
* Learn to do a physical activity well. This should be something you intrinsically enjoy. No artificial motivation involved. If you like badminton, become the legend of 12th main (or whatever)
* Art and craft: Watch, enjoy, and discuss deep well crafted movies (eg Drive My Car), produce some art.
* Avoid relationships if you can, for a while. Our best relationships come when we feel content about ourselves. I doubt your feeling that.
The theme is “pursuit of meaningful leisure”.
Hmm. You clearly aren't enjoying your work. Money is just one component of a job , there are many other things.
And with money everyone knows more you have it, more its value will diminish. Money itself can never provide satisfaction it's what you do with money that does.
Money does give you freedom so that's good. What freedom to do what? Why cant you do that thing now?
Take sometime off and think really what you want from life. Does what you're currently doing fit into the grand plan?
Money alone can't be the motivation for most people. You have to understand yourself deeply.
Well sounds similar although for me in my early career stages I had this thought and I can understand its very distracting and you might be thinking this that what not I would suggest best maybe first of all try getting out maybe go on vacation or something that clears and refreshes your mind out then if you have some ideas some thoughts anything try Journaling it down will help you a lot also now try more maybe to you know involve in sports and try to discover your passion there are tons of startups coming up you surely can have your own business or a startup! Take care
ChangelingBorg
Stealth
a year ago
Shikamaru
GaramKutta
Stealth
a year ago
Earn as much as you can and then..
Option 1. give it to the less privileged, imagine a kid who has to drop out of school and works at the nearby dhaba to earn 1 meal for his family.
Option 2: Treat this as the seed fund for what you want to do.
Option 3: Give it to an entrepreneur you believe in and let them follow their dreams!( Can be someone who wishes to open a shop in your hometown or a startup kid)
But ask for what you deserve, it’s more about the value you bring to the table and less about what you do with that money!
Bhai Decide karle chahiye kya life mein ,Money or peace and happiness ? If you keep looking at others someone would be definitely making more than you and they would seem better off.
Second, How do you decide " less deserving people minting more money" If someone has reached the place he/she deserves it by luck, hardwork or simply Jugaad.
You never know the people earning more than you might be thinking the same when they look at people earning more than them (Never endeding) also try to be happy with what you have or be ready to sacrifice what you have for what you could have ....
Phew.... bahut gyan de diya online gyanis ki tarah :P
AmpleHawk1
Stealth
a year ago
That’s pretty much me. Minus the IIT tag and the fact that I already wasted a year trying to build something of my own. Guess you’re not alone. But yeah, I do wanna go back to building my own thing, it was way more satisfying and I regret giving up on it. Money is indeed meaningless and there’s no end chasing it.
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