A Warning To Those Choosing Money Over Love

Should you choose money over love?

I’ve had several conversations with business owners in the last few weeks, and there’s a dangerous common theme that keeps coming up.

Both those who have ‘made it’ and run successful businesses — as well as those just getting started — are gambling with their most precious resource: their time.

It’s about creating a lifestyle that gives you the freedom (and time) to do what you want (by yourself or with loved ones) while making a positive and valuable impact on your clients, customers and community.

They choose to spend their time locked in their business.

“But Michael, I’m doing it for my kids and my family. I need to have more money.” 

They’re not playing smart. They’re playing by someone else’s rules — not their own which they can create.

If you’re spending more time away from your loved ones because you think that’s the only way to provide for them, think again.

Ask yourself…

When the unexpected happens, what will you tell yourself? Will you still believe your current story?

Will it still have made sense to neglect the time you could have had with your family?

Will the extra dollars in your bank account justify your choices?

Or will you regret those dollars for the time they took away from you spending it with your loved ones?

I’m not suggesting that you don’t work hard. Hard work and a great commitment of time are requirements at certain stages of your business.

But I do believe finding the right balance NOW is far better than waiting for SOMEDAY and the PERFECT FUTURE to occur.

Start doing now what you ultimately want to do later.

Have you ever heard someone approaching their final days say “I wish I had made more money in my bank account?” or “I wish I chose money over love.” 

Isn’t it more common to hear “I wish I spent more time with my family?”, “I wish I loved and treasured my spouse or kids more?”, or “I wish I could have done these things with my family or friends.”

Why wish?

Why put things off?

Building a successful business isn’t about having a “successful business.”

It’s about creating a lifestyle that gives you the freedom (and time) to do what you want (by yourself or with loved ones) while making a positive and valuable impact on your clients, customers, and community.

“We know this is going to take long-term. Now that Mike clarified what he originally had asked me opening up this principal was yes, I agree. In our earlier years, we did jump around a lot from business to business. We had some good successes, but we would often leave them even before they realized their full potential. With Consulting Success®, it’s nine or ten years deep at this point. We’re not planning to abandon it anytime soon. It’s a long-term lifelong vision of creating the platform and training for consultants. That’s a big lofty goal. We know we’re going to do it but we also know it’s going to take a lot of time and we’re going to be spending that time and having fun along the way. That’s what these principles are all about. It’s a long-term commitment to build a good business, a good life, a good body, a good relationship, and a good family. We know this now.”

—Sam Zipursky, Co-Founder at Consulting Success®, Our 10 Guiding Principles: Inside Our Consulting Business And Life

Here’s what it comes down to and what I believe…

If you’re true to yourself and recognize that you’re playing with someone else’s rules, you’ll realize that you’re delaying what you truly want.

You’re creating “reasons” (i.e. excuses) — but realize that YOU ARE MAKING A CHOICE.

It’s your choice. Your business. Your life. You get to choose how you spend it.

What you do with it. What impact you want to make. What value you want to create. Who you’ll serve. Who you’ll love.

There are many things we can’t control in life. But these we can.

It’s your choice. You make the rules.

You can play someone else’s cards — or, you can play your own.

You don’t have to choose money over love.

If this message resonates with you — or will benefit someone you know — please share it.

With love,
Michael Zipursky