“I do not believe making money in order to consume goods is mankind’s sole purpose on this planet.” —Bill Hicks

A proper career should be built on helping as many people solve problems, in the most efficient way, as possible. Making money is simply keeping score of the life we’re trading for others. When we add high value, we should make more money…. in theory. Alas, the system is gamed towards the wealth accumulators. I believe philosophers, teachers and healthcare workers ought to make more than stockbrokers, but I don’t get to set the rules.

To then take all that life traded for money and exchange it for frivolous stuff is the biggest waste of our time. What is arguably more valuable is an exchange of greater experiences in a lifetime for that money earned helping others. It’s the best of both worlds when you think about it.

The game of consumerism is often fatal to a great life. Life is measured in time, but also how in how we spend that time. Magical moments sprinkled throughout a lifetime, or better, spilling over from abundance, add to a life well-lived. That’s what I call a great trade.