Is it OK to Want to Make Money? Slaying Some Silicon Valley Myths

Isn't money the reason most of us start businesses? The road of an entrepreneur is a long and difficult one and, unless you already drive a Porsche, surely money (or freedom, which is usually bought by money) is a primary motivating factor?

I find it hard to be motivated by "want to make money", at least once basic starvation is solved, on an ongoing basis. I definitely am motivated in the decision making process by "wow, owning a $100m exploration yacht would be awesome" or "I'd like to afford a house in Palo Alto someday". It doesn't motivate me every single minute, or even every morning, though.<p>Learning something new, building something fun, or making customers happy, general professionalism, or desire for and having respect of teammates, is a much more continuous reinforcement.

One of my main reasons for planning to do a start up soon is the freedom to work on what you want, and the freedom to work toward creating your own vision.<p>I think a healthy goal for money is to have enough money to not have to worry about money.

<a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1978785" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1978785</a><p>Here, sans video, with more comments.