Don't feel financial incentive to do well because my parents are well off

So this is a weird situation, I've made it to where I am largely because I was put on this path a long time ago. My parents did very well for themselves, and growing up my siblings and I probably had it too easy: fancy cars, no school debt, no real limitations as far as spending went. Now that I'm working, I just feel like a $200k, even a $400k salary is/would be great, but it just doesn't feel like much. I want to make it making millions a year before I'd feel like I'm really doing well, but I feel like that mindset is so messed up. What motivates you all to work hard? I feel like my role and the brand of my company validates me to my parents and their/my friends, and maybe the 'power' as you move up would be nice. For now it just feels like I'm living a comfortable but unexceptional life, but I know that's bullshit because so many of my friends from highschool/college are making near nothing right now. Just feels strange

16 Comments
 

supergoon

This is why we need diversity programs 

Nowhere in the OP did this person mention race. The fact this is your only takeaway while completely ignoring that those programs overwhelmingly benefit people exactly like the OP who just happen to be the right skin tone/gender is a perfect example of the problem and why so many people are sick of them.

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion
 

Try to come up with the billion dollar idea.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

It sounds like you are fairly incentivized to do well if you’re making a few hundred thousand yearly currently and want to make a lot consistently over the course of your career in general. You’re in finance, basically everyone aspires to make a lot, nothing wrong with that - why else did you join this field

 
Most Helpful

Fulfillment with your own life can't be given to you by anyone but yourself. No amount of external validation from your parents, their friends, comparisons to other people will get you there. Period. You need to figure out what you want, both from a career and your overall life, and start down that path. If you really feel that you are 'put' on a path by your parents - get off it. Stop accepting any financial support from them. Draw boundaries for yourself. Define what makes you happy, and start pursuing it. Write things down, define them to yourself, and then get going. 

Also - this idea that you accrue 'power' as you move up in organizations is absolutely upside down. Sure, as you manage people or functions you have some 'role' power because of reporting structures, but the more people you manage the more you work for them and not the other way around. It's not like you make MD or VP or whatever, and you get handed a scepter that gives you all the say in the world. You want power? You can literally do anything you want. You have no debt, you clearly have money, most likely a name brand education, and you are clearly bright enough to have a good job right out of school. That's power - not being one of thousands of VP's in an org that will lay you off in an instant if things get bad, in a role that you are clearly not interested in anyway. 

 

why would you enter a field where 99.9% of people is motivated solely because of money? you should had aimed at something more risky in life as you have a big cushion to fall on if things don't work well (artist, entrepreneurship, politics as you mentioned power, etc.)

or let me put it in other words, the more wealthy is your background the higher your professional achievements can be (+ higher expectations from others about what you can accomplish) because the main barrier and main fear in more ambitious pursuits i.e. financial are non-existent

so why you joined IB to begin with??

incentives trumph ethics
 

You have to find it within yourself to want to achieve something. You can be a little rich kid for the rest of your life, or you can make something of your own and inherit whatever you get from your parents. 

Here's a real life parable for you. I went to grad school and hung out with two dudes who were absurdly wealthy. One's family owned a pro sports team. The other personally had his own yacht and plane as well as other absurdities. One of them was there to make something of themself, studied, worked hard, got a great job, and has over the years moved up and has a great career. The other acted like a playboy, never even got a job in-industry as he was only in grad school to please his father, and has done nothing of note to date. 

They both have dope ass lives. They're both set. But man, I can tell you which one people respect and which one people tell jokes about. 

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

I kind of feel you, there are a lot of very professionally accomplished people in my family and I had a pretty comfortable childhood

That said, my sole desire in life is take the successes of those who came before me and build on them. They've all worked too hard and made too many sacrifices for me to kickback now and cruise. Everyone in my family is also a workaholic so take that as you wish, but thats my general philosophy.

What's stopping you from achieving greatness in your own right? Probably nothing, so go chase it. 

 

This must be a troll post. What world is some one making 200-400k each year and not believing they are doing well? 
 

Take a few moment to appreciate where you come from before you make stupid post like this 

 

Have to agree.

My parents on average have made around this range for nearly 30 years. I have a hard time being productive at their home whenever I'm over as I realize how much I'll inherit from them and even if I'm unemployed / homeless, I could easily crash in my room back at my parents' place free of charge. Also was lucky enough not to incur any debt although I did cover my MBA expenses (barely going to have any savings at graduation).

 

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