<span style="font-weight: 400;">Many entrepreneurs start companies believing that their mission is to make as much money as possible for themselves and their families. However, that rarely turns out to be the case. When the money finally arrives (often after many years) it feels like a pyrrhic victory. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">The issue here isn’t a lack of skill, but a failure of self-understanding. Many executives in the business world believe that they want money, but later discover that it has nothing to do with how they feel. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">The purpose of this post is to provide you with some pointers that your life’s mission is about more than just making profits. While having a little money in the bank is nice, you could be the type of person who wants more from life. </span> <b>You Feel Unfulfilled With Financial Success</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Many people find financial success fulfilling – and that’s great for them. But there’s a significant cadré of individuals who simply </span><a href="https://theincmagazine.com/how-to-support-mental-health-as-a-small-business-owner/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">don’t get any pleasure from it</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">If that sounds like you, then you might not be seeking comfort in your life. Instead, you could be after something else. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The challenge, of course, is to find out what that thing is. But if making money just doesn’t seem like a great way to live for you, then you might want to make a change. </span> <b>You Have A Strong Sense Of Purpose</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Your life should also be about more than making profits if you have a strong sense of purpose (that doesn’t relate to money). For example, you might want to alleviate suffering, make people laugh, or invent something new that furthers the cause of civilization.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">These noble ambitions are why many people start exploring </span><a href="https://brytebridge.com/how-to-start-a-501c3-nonprofit/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">nonprofit startup requirements</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. The hope is that this different approach frees them from economic imperatives that might cause them to compromise on their values. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Importantly, your calling should transcend your requirement for financial reward. The mission should supersede the profit motive. </span> <b>You Dream Of Making Your Mark</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Another sign that </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/simonsinek_profit-isnt-a-purpose-its-a-result-purpose-activity-6864933545849196544-9WqL"><span style="font-weight: 400;">your life’s mission is about more than profit</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is that you dream of making your mark on the world. You’re prepared to forgo some income if it means you can change the lives of others or make the world a better place. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">You sometimes see this attitude with academic scientists. Instead of patenting or hoarding discoveries, they share them with the world, making them freely available. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">This phenomenon also sometimes occurs in non-profits. These firms often open-source their data or inventions so that more people can use and benefit from them. </span> <b>You Can Challenge Societal Norms</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, </span><a href="https://medium.com/lessons-from-ordinary/what-would-you-consider-your-lifes-mission-5eabff76f27c"><span style="font-weight: 400;">your life’s mission</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> might be about more than profits if you can challenge societal norms. Even though everyone else is screaming at you to make money, you are okay with forging your own path and doing what you want. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">For instance, you might not care about conventional standards of financial success at all. Or even if you do, you might prioritize personal growth and fulfillment over having an extra million dollars in the bank. You might also reject materialism outright and simply keep all the profits you make in a trust fund, waiting for a suitable project. </span>
