Defining "Enough"

The Hedonic Treadmill

There is a hungry ghost inside every ambitious founder.

• When you have RM 0, you think, "If I just make RM 10k a month, I'll be happy."
• You hit RM 10k. The happiness lasts 2 days. Then you think, "If I hit RM 100k, I'll be happy."
• You hit RM 100k. "If I hit RM 1 million..."
• You hit RM 1 million. "If I IPO..."

This is the Hedonic Treadmill. You run faster and faster, but you never get to the destination named "Satisfaction."

In the startup world, the goalposts are always moving. There is always someone raising a bigger round. There is always someone with a bigger exit. If you play the comparison game, you will lose. You will be miserable even when you are winning.

The Story of the Fisherman and the Banker

There is an old story (often told in MBA classes, ironically).

A wealthy investment banker goes to a small coastal village. He sees a fisherman relaxing, playing with his kids, sipping tea with his wife. The banker says, "Why don't you work harder? Get a bigger boat." Fisherman: "Why?" Banker: "So you can catch more fish and buy a fleet of boats." Fisherman: "Why?" Banker: "So you can build a cannery and list your company on the stock exchange and make millions!" Fisherman: "And then what?" Banker: "Then you can retire, move to a small coastal village, relax, play with your kids, and sip tea with your wife." Fisherman: "What do you think I am doing now?"

Knowing Your Number

As Dave Chong, I had to sit down and ask myself: "What is my 'Enough'?"

Not the number the VC wants. Not the number Forbes wants. My number.

• How much money do I actually need to live the life I want? (It’s often lower than you think).
• How much stress am I willing to tolerate?
• How much time away from my family is acceptable?

Once I defined my "Enough," the game changed. I stopped chasing growth for the sake of growth. I started chasing profitable, sustainable, enjoyable growth.

Ambition vs. Greed

There is a fine line between ambition and greed.

• Ambition is wanting to build something great, to solve a problem, to reach your potential.
• Greed is wanting more just to have more.

Ambition drives you. Greed eats you.

The Infinite Game

Simon Sinek talks about the "Infinite Game." Business is not a football match. There is no final whistle. There is no "winning business."

The goal is not to "beat" the competition and retire. The goal is to keep playing. To keep building. To keep learning. To keep employing people and serving customers.

If you can find joy in the process of building, rather than just the outcome, you have found "Enough." You have won the game before it even finishes.

So, define your success on your own terms. Don't let the market dictate your happiness.

Dave Chong DJC AI Sdn Bhd