I was talking to my CEO tonight and he's so different than me.

[Zeze]

He's a CEO of a private 3000-man consulting company worth 200 mil. He came out to our small but growing team in the region. So it was an intimate 25 man dinner with the big man himself.

He was very cool and down to earth. I asked him a question about his first big break, then it got to him getting old (looks to be in late 60s) and what his legacy is.

He says he got about 10 years before losing his marbles. He says he wants to grow the company even bigger and give back more to the community. The company does considerable outreach stuff.

Man, I'd quit quietly so fast around $20 mil networth, go eff off to a nice cabin in Maine or how about bahamas?

He must really enjoy working and doing what he loves. I envy that so much. It's like if you love playing video game, but that's work. Of course you're going to pour your heart into it every waking hour. It's his baby.

He met with CEO of Boeing last week then CEO of whatever this week twice in a fundraiser and a strategy meeting.

Holy hell that sounds tiring flying back and forth and deal with all that crap?

Is it bad to want a simpler life?

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Guys like him don't get to where they are by giving up after their first million.

 

[Zeze]

Guys like him don't get to where they are by giving up after their first million.

I mean, duh. 🙂

 

[KB]

People like him love meeting bigwigs and fundraising. It boosts their ego and gives value to their life. I am the opposite, meeting people doesn't do much for me. Sitting on a mountain top (preferably one I just hiked) gives me the most value to my life and you can't do that sitting in meetings. I would definitely quit with the 20 million, so I could hike all the Colorado fourteeners.

 

[deadlyapp]

My expectation is that to get to a level like that, you're constantly "on" and it's nearly impossible to turn "off" or retire. They'd go bonkers and end up just finding something else to involve themselves in. Makes sense then if you enjoy the dealmaking, the prestige, etc or leaving a legacy, to keep doing what you're doing.

 

[realibrad]

People like him love meeting bigwigs and fundraising. It boosts their ego and gives value to their life. I am the opposite, meeting people doesn't do much for me. Sitting on a mountain top (preferably one I just hiked) gives me the most value to my life and you can't do that sitting in meetings. I would definitely quit with the 20 million, so I could hike all the Colorado fourteeners.

I would say it boosts their perceived self value, just as you described for yourself.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Is it bad to want a simpler life?

Honestly no. There is nothing wrong with surviving comfortably. Cultures favor the driven, but the reality is that takes a certain type of person that frankly is usually less than desirable. It is what has led to the 'money over everything' aspect that is so prevalent. Obviously being driven isn't all bad though considering that is where our advances in life come from.

 

[Midwayman]

I think anyone who makes it to that level would just be restless in retirement. I know people with 'f-off' money, own their own company, etc. Their idea of retirement seems to be starting a new company that is more "fun" in that it does something more closely aligned with their personal interests.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

"I'd quit quietly so fast around $20 mil networth"

Thus why you'll never be a CEO.

 

[Carson Dyle]

He must really enjoy working and doing what he loves. I envy that so much. It's like if you love playing video game, but that's work. Of course you're going to pour your heart into it every waking hour. It's his baby.

Is it bad to want a simpler life?

Some people manage a lot of things incredibly well, and still maintain a well-balanced life. It's that ability that I find more fascinating than whether they work until they're 80 or they retire at 40. Family, friends, leisure, work, community, hobbies. And they do it (seemingly) with ease.

 

[Mai72]

People are driven for many reasons.