Picture this: you're sipping your morning coffee, mulling over the day's tasks. Suddenly, it hits you: why am I doing things I don't even like?
John D. Rockefeller once said, "Do you know the only thing that gives me pleasure? It's to see my dividends coming in."
We're not all Rockefellers, but we get his point.
Yet, here's a contrarian thought. What if it's not just about dividends?
It's about freedom.
I've got a rule. Let's call it the $50M rule. No, it's not 'yacht-jet-soccer team' kind of money (we might have to aim a bit higher for that).
But it’s a much more meaningful number.
It's 'choose your day' kind of money. It's 'never work on junk' kind of money.
If it doesn't have the potential to make you $50M, why waste your time?
Sounds insane, right? It's not.
People have numbers.
Some people it’s a nice salary, some people it’s 1m, 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m.
Look at Elon Musk. PayPal gave him his $50M+ exit. Since then? SpaceX, Tesla, SolarCity. All passion projects. All potential $50M+ endeavors.
Or consider Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky. They started Airbnb out of necessity, sure, but also saw the potential in a $100B+ industry.
They didn't just chase money. They chased freedom.
$50M isn't just a number, it's a mindset.
David Ogilvy, the father of advertising, once said, "Don't bunt. Aim out of the ballpark. Aim for the company of immortals."
Not every venture has to be a unicorn.
But every venture should at least hold the promise of giving you the freedom you seek.
If you're aiming, aim high.
It's about creating value, yes. But it's more about setting yourself free. Free to work on projects that ignite your passion, not just your pocket.
Remember, entrepreneurship isn't just about building businesses. It's about building your life.
Now, Henry Ford famously said, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't–you're right."
Think about that the next time you evaluate a business opportunity. Are you settling for less because you believe you can't hit $50M?
You're not just weighing business potential, you're defining your own worth.
Don't sell yourself short.
Define your freedom. Shape your journey. And remember, life's too short to work on things you don't like.
The $50M rule isn't about chasing wealth. It's about refusing to settle. It's about freeing yourself to work on what you love, every single day.