Something I've thought about lately is that money in itself is rarely the end we really have in mind, despite our focus on it. Money is usually the means to achieve some end (like financial security).

But more often than not I've realized that while all of my friends are working toward this idea of financial security, very few of them have defined what that actually means. What lifestyle do you want to lead and how much money will that specifically require?

The more I've thought about that, the more I've realized that "financial security" is actually achievable on a fast timescale if we're willing to focus on things like budgeting and perhaps relax some constraints (I want to have a boat, nice car, live in California/NYC, etc).

The things that make me the happiest are having fun (which doesn't require much) and spending time with my family. I could easily find a way to do that indefinitely without needing a post-IPO payday.

Now I'm left wondering where I got the crazy idea that I needed one in the first place.