What’s the Goal?

I think one of the best ways to get to know someone is by asking one simple question: What’s the goal?

I ask this question to almost everyone I meet for the first time, and the most common answer—almost always—is money.
“I just want to get rich.”

So then I ask why. What does money actually do for you? Because I can say wholeheartedly that a stack of cash sitting right in front of you won’t bring you any joy. So what is it that money provides—the thing you believe will finally give you what you want? At the end of the day, money is just paper.

Sometimes I think money isn’t the goal at all—it’s just the stepping stone that people mistake for the goal. Being rich doesn’t guarantee happiness. You die whether you spend it or not.

Asking why always seems to stump people. Some start to stutter and slowly realize they don’t actually know why they want money—only that society told them they should. Others believe money will fix all their problems, as if every issue in their life could disappear the moment cash is placed in their hands. News flash: money only really fixes financial problems—not all problems.

Then there are those who think having money will earn them respect or place them above others who are less financially privileged. To those people, I always ask: what do you have to prove? Because at that point, the money isn’t for you. So who are you trying to impress, and why do they matter so much?

Every once in a while, I get an oddball answer—to live, to be happy, to have a family. I always end up liking those people. They seem more honest with themselves, and that’s something I genuinely respect.

Overall, I think asking someone about their goals tells you exactly where they are in life. It’s like getting a brief glimpse into the world they’re living in.