People always want more, that’s something everyone knows. But why? At the end of the day, isn’t money just paper? Money represents different things to people. When people say they want to earn more or be rich, it signifies something else about their priorities.

For some people, making a lot of money would allow them to retire and travel. To them, money really means freedom. What they are seeking, from another job or the lottery, is something that frees them. A person like this is Derek Sivers.

For others, they want to be rich so they can brag, wear expensive jewelry, and drive nice cars. To them, money really means importance. The bling allows for them to feel that importance and self-worth that they never felt before. Rappers come to mind, individuals that grew up with very little and were told by society that they aren’t going to be successful.

Money isn’t an end, it isn’t a why. Money represents something else: it’s what you do with money that shows your motivations.