Profit and Purpose: Can They Coexist?

Today's question comes from a Thinker—an African professional living in Spain who's been juggling work, school, and life abroad for several years. Recently, with rising education costs and financial pressure, he's considering a break from school to focus on making more money—through a better-paying job or a side hustle.

He asked, “Is it bad or wrong to be at a point in your life or career where you only want to make money?”

The short answer? No.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with money being your motivation. I often write about purpose, passion, and legacy—and I hope I've conveyed this over the years, but the journey ain't always easy. First prize would be to find a more lucrative role that aligns with his long-term professional goal. But sometimes, we need to recalibrate, to revisit our approach and pursue different goals along the pathway to our purpose. In each of our lives, we go through different seasons, we have different needs, and different factors that motivate us. There's no shame in that. 

With that said, one thing I did sense in the question was a bit of internal judgment—perhaps shaped by cultural or spiritual messages about money. If, like me, you grew up in the Church, you might have heard “money is the root of all evil” to warn us about the dangers of greed and overconsumption. And while overconsumption and the unjust acquisition of wealth are things society is grappling with in real time, what the scripture actually says is, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).

In other words: money itself isn't bad. It's a tool. Like any tool, it can be used to build something beautiful—or cause harm. The real question is: How are you earning it? And what is it costing you, others, or the earth?

So, to our friend in Spain—and anyone grappling with this—my invitation is this: examine your relationship with money. Where does the guilt come from? Whose voice are you hearing when you question your desire to earn? And what would it look like to give yourself full permission to pursue your financial goals without apology?

Because purpose and prosperity aren't at odds. For me, the sweet spot is earning well and doing work you love. But if today's reality requires you to prioritize income, that doesn't mean you've abandoned your dreams—it means you're resourcing yourself to sustain them.

If you'd like support designing a career that makes space for both purpose and prosperity, consider coaching. Book a Discovery Call today.