Recently got rejected by someone we were trying to hire. And a thought about money + opportunities has been living rent-free in my head.
SG and I were trying to get someone to work with us. For C4E and Yellow.
The person told me that they loved everything about us and the way we see life.
But money’s important too. And thus, they’ll pass.
They’re not wrong. We weren’t paying market/startup salaries.
We offered a leap. A shot at disproportionate growth.
The keyword is “a shot”. Not guaranteed.
But the rejection aside, here’s what I have been thinking about.
Growth, money, privilege.
I asked SG why a lot of salary money is important to a young person when they’re starting out. I can make a few guesses.
Money buys happiness.
There’s social status.
Gives you bragging rights.
I could go on and on.
But none of these reasons cut it. I cannot wrap my head around why a fancy salary from a job where you’re perhaps a tiny cog in the wheel is so tempting.
I don’t come from money. And for 18 years of my life I believed that I would have to grind for a few decades before I could actually do what I want to. And enjoy it.
Turns out, I was VERY wrong. Two things happened.
I calculated my dal roti / kitchen expenses. Not ghee. Dal roti only.
And, someone trusted me enough to pay me dal roti.
That day, I felt liberated.
I think my mind opened up to 392949 possibilities.
That time, in 2021, is when I first learned I can have BHAG.
Money stopped being the primary factor of my decisions.
I got to choose people, projects, opportunities that put me on a path to disproportionate growth. And didn’t always mean fancy salaries.
In one word, privilege. I suddenly had the privilege to choose what I want to do with my life. And what I want to spend my time doing.
But, that is ALL it took. And after having lived this earned privilege, I realise that..
I am not tempted by a 5x salary offer. And no, I don’t hate money. I love it. And will work very hard to make a mad amount of it.
But if I have the option between…
a, Living a deliberate life. Working closely with people who will give me 100% access to their life. With the intention of teaching me everything they know. So I succeed
b, Play the role of a tiny cog. And getting paid 5x the money for it
I know what I am choosing. Because hey, if I don’t swing for the fences now, when would I?
And honestly? In a long time frame, the money comes. If you do good work and do it with the right people, you will be rewarded.
In the case where you don’t make the money, you would’ve learned so much and become a better version of yourself. And still have 20 more years to make whatever money.
It’s hard to find people who make this choice. Who don’t join the rat race. And look beyond immediate money. I’m lucky I know some people.
I have a friend who gets paid the top dollar. It’s a job. But it is with someone who will change the course of his career. And teach him things he would’ve not learned anywhere. And, he tells me – money is a by-product. He would’ve taken up the opportunity regardless.
Naval said this in a podcast. That people don’t spend enough time making the most important decisions like where to study and what to work on. Which is funny because you spend at least 5 years living those decisions.
Coming back. I’m at the same place with C4E / Yellow / things I do.
No fancy salary.
Small probability of making it.
Just a risky, very high-dopamine, meaningful shot.
And the downside? Lost time + a lot of learning.
If you’re reading this, I must also tell you that…
I know a lot of this is trust and luck.
I know that it depends on who you choose to work with.
And that it may be a shot in the dark.
And now that I am on the other side, trying to find the best people to take the leap of faith with me, while being bootstrapped and prudent in the early days…
I see us losing out on money.
I will have to work even harder to share why we’re the right place. For young people to spend some time on. And learn a ton while they’re at it.
P.S. Like most things, I am optimistic about finding a solution.