Photo: @mark78_xp

A couple of weeks ago I was swaggerin' through the marina district of San Francisco with Srini Rao from The Skool of Life and Sam from Financial Samurai after a lunch of steak kabobs.

It was the first time all three of us had met, but we plunged into discussing the usual suspects with little ado: online business, passive income, travel, Brazilian women.

I don't know what came over me but in a moment of unfiltered thought to speech I said: “You know what, I don't care about helping people at all. I want to make my income online, have no boss, travel, learn languages and fuck more beautiful women.”
 
..uh-huh…..
 

“It's a philosophical issue!” I continued with inspiration.

“People think that if you're making money then you're not helping others or that you should care about helping everybody and their mom.”

“I say, if you're making money in the FIRST place then people are willing to buy your product or service because they find it helpful. Thus, you are HELPING them, even though it's not your (i.e. my) intention at all.”

 

 

LOOK. Look at me. I tried, I really did.

I tried convincing myself that I just want to do good and be of service. A sort of Mother Theresa of online business.

I recall saying something like “I don't care if I make any money. I just want to help people learn to sing.” (I have a singing product)

Did you hear what I just said?

I DON'T CARE IF I MAKE ANY MONEY? I JUST WANT TO HELP PEOPLE LEARN TO SING???

I am jackass, hear me ee-aw.
 

What does all this mean? Dads are smart, that's what.

He called me on my bullshit self-deception way back when and then proceeded to argue with me for a good 30 minutes about my new-found altruism.

My friend, who witnessed our Skype convo asked:

“Dude, are you and your dad like that all the time?”

Taking an exasperated gulp of beer I replied, “Man…yeah.”

For the record, I love my dad very much. Ya'll know how it is though, with the parents and all. They fuckin' crayzay!

 
The truth is that in business, relationships, and well, life – you won't get value unless you provide value.

But personally, I think the intention is irrelevant.

What kind of brainwashed hippies have we become if we can't say:

“I run this business to make money to do all the cool shit I've ever wanted.”

Instead we're expected to say:

“I want to help all the crippled kittens and forlorn termites of the world.”
 
Or,
 
“I'm hanging out with you because I want to get in your pants.”

Instead of:

“Oh indeed? I think that's very interesting. Do go on.”

 
Haha, I LOL'd at that last one, meself. But that's because I'm a douchebag. And I'm sitting here naked. Ok, enough with the brutal honesty. The world can't take it.

 

In conclusion, I'm actually a really good liar. But even I can't pull this one off.

So you want authenticity? This is it. Still want it?
 
Find this post useful, interesting or droll? Stumble It!