What Is Enough Now?

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Two years ago I published a piece titled, What Is Enough?

I remember talking to my uncle afterwards about it. He praised me for reflecting on the question, but warned me that it’s a question that never really goes away.

In his late 60s, after an objectively successful business career and helping cultivate a loving family (I guess I’m biased because I’m a part of it), he continues to ask himself the question regularly.

Well, this week the question came up on a call with my business coach. So I thought it would be a good time to reread what I wrote two years ago and provide an updated take.

Here we go.

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I started the original post by asking myself:

“Do I think I have enough right now?”

My answer was no.

So I made a list of a bunch of material things I wanted, ranging from Bombas socks to fixing my car to blood sample tests to a first-class trip to Asia. Then I ran an experiment and bought some of the things to see if they actually improved my happiness.

Turns out, for less than $1,000, I bought a handful of material things that genuinely made me feel good and improved my daily life.

But sitting here two years later, have the goalposts moved?

Is there a new list of 30 things I want? Or am I actually happy with the things I already have and am doing?

Sure, there are luxury items I’d buy if I had unlimited funds. I’d love a sauna in my backyard. I’d happily fly first class and stay at fancy hotels.

But all things considered, I feel pretty fulfilled having bought 24 out of those 30 things from two years ago. (I’ll just need to re-up on the Bombas socks that now have holes in them.) What’s interesting is that I didn’t immediately replace that old list with 30 new things.

The material goalposts haven’t moved all that much. But the question of enough has.

So now I’m asking myself again:

Do I have enough right now?

When Christian, my business coach, asked me that question, it took me a long time to respond.

I sat back in my chair. Looked up at the ceiling of the phone booth in my coworking space and thought hard. I didn’t want to just say something. I wanted to actually feel the answer.

At first, my mind went to yes. Yes, I have enough.

I’m pursuing work I enjoy that aligns with my values. I have loving family and friends. I have most of the material things I once wanted. Most days, I get to do what I love with people I love.

And that answer is true. But it also felt like the easy answer. It didn’t feel like the full answer. Because the truth is, I still want more.

That’s why I woke up at 6 AM today and was in the office by 7:15 working on a book for my client. It’s why I’m training 2x per day, 6 days per week for a triathlon next month. It’s why I continue to spend time investing in my relationships. 

Part of what has gotten me to this point is continuing to show up. Continuing to grow. Continuing to take risks and see what I’m capable of.

And I enjoy that.

I don’t want “I have enough” to become an excuse to just chill and stop doing the things that helped me build a life I love in the first place. So I sat there for a while longer, and the only way I could answer Christian’s question was:

“For Andrew one year ago? Yes, I have enough.”

“For Andrew right now, here today? No, it’s not enough.”

A year ago, I was working toward things that I now have. My business has progressed. My relationships have progressed. New opportunities have opened up. I can see possibilities now that I couldn’t see before.

And that’s exciting.

But what I want more of today isn’t really physical stuff.

It’s more intangible.

I want more security.

I have enough money to afford my current lifestyle, but I also know my life will probably get more expensive. From what I hear, kids aren’t cheap. I want to continue saving and investing so future decisions don’t have to be made entirely through the lens of money.

I want more freedom.

Right now, my working time is split between writing for clients and writing for myself. I enjoy the client work and don’t want it to totally go away. But I want to shift the pendulum. I want more time to write my memoir. More time to explore a new business idea. More time to put my own work into the world and see who it might help.

And I want more experiences with people I love.

More hiking trips. Michigan football weekends. Golf trips. Fishing trips. New cities, towns, and continents. Rumor has it Antarctica might be on the horizon. I want to see more of the world, take more swings, build things I’m excited about, and do as much of it as possible alongside people I care about.

I guess all three of these things—security, freedom, experiences—serve the same larger goal:

To keep building a life where I get to do what I love with people I love.

So is it possible to have enough but still want more?

Isn’t the cliché that it’s not about this or that... it’s about both?

The question “Do you have enough?” feels like it’s screaming at you for a yes or no answer.

But I’m not sure I buy that anymore.

Right now, my answer is yes.

I have enough.

I’m grateful that I get to pursue work that aligns with my values. I’m grateful for strong relationships with my family and friends. I’m grateful that, most days, I’m already living a version of the life I used to hope I could build.

And I also want more.

I want to keep growing. I want more security, freedom, and experiences. I want to continue taking risks instead of playing life safe. We only get one of these, and I want to make the most of it.

Maybe that’s why my uncle says this question never really goes away.

The answer can be yes.

And it can also be no.

For right now, I think I’m okay with both.

Thank you for reading! As always please reply and let me know what resonated, what didn’t, or what you question. I love chatting about this stuff!

Cheers,

Andrew