Oh, capitalism. That mighty engine of “more, more, more!” It’s the water we swim in, the air we breathe, the philosophy of our morning coffee order (I’ll take the venti, please). And it sneaks into everything—especially our goals. Somewhere along the line, we got the idea that if we’re not growing, expanding, dominating industries like we’re playing Monopoly with Jeff Bezos, then we’re failing. That’s it. We’re out of the game. 

But here’s the thing: more isn’t always better. It’s just… more stuff. More stress, more exhaustion, more of us asking, “Wait, why am I doing this again?”

We’re chasing an invisible goal that capitalism sells us: bigger business, bigger paycheck, bigger everything—because growth is good, right? But is it? Or is it just what “hustle culture” teaches us? (By the way, I’m just asking here, not starting a revolution. I’ll be out back barricading the mailbox, just in case the “Capitalism Forever” fanboys come knocking.)

Seriously, though—when did we buy into the idea that more always equals better? A lot of us have businesses like overgrown gardens—big, wild, and full of plants we didn’t actually intend to grow. Meanwhile, the things that matter (our time, our peace, our joy) are getting choked out by weeds.

So, what if we stopped buying into the growth-at-all-costs mindset? Enter the steady-state economy. Instead of chasing infinite growth in a finite world, it prioritizes balance. Sustainability. Stability. It’s about knowing what’s enough, not what’s more.

And speaking of “enough,” it’s goal-setting season. We’re supposed to be dreaming up new targets for the year ahead, but before we rush into that, let’s ask: What does “enough” look like for me? Not what the market says I should want, but what actually brings balance and joy.

This year, maybe the goal isn’t to grow by 20% or break revenue records. Maybe the goal is to build something sustainable that serves our lives instead of taking over them. 

I know, I know. Poking at capitalism is basically asking for my inbox to flood with emails about how “business is about winning.” (It’s fine. I’ll just forward them to spam with all the “earn six figures in six weeks” emails.) But really, are we building businesses that expand endlessly and devour our lives, or creating steady, meaningful contributions to the world?

So, as you set your goals, maybe rethink the game. Instead of trying to “win” at capitalism, let’s build something that sustains us—something a little quieter, perhaps even a little smaller, but oh-so-much more satisfying. After all, who really wants to be running on that hamster wheel forever? Not me.

But I will take that venti coffee, thanks.

Ready to take your finances to the next level? Reach out for personalized coaching or hit that subscribe button for more money-saving tips and real estate mastery. Your financial success journey begins now! 💰🚀

Let others know! Share the knowledge with:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *