Pablo Picasso’s famous quote, “I’d like to live as a poor man with lots of money,” might sound like a joke at first. But it actually points to a really important idea: there’s a big difference between living a good life and just chasing wealth. It’s about finding happiness in simple things versus getting caught up in always wanting more money and possessions.
Many of us have felt that panic when you check your bank balance and it’s low, and your credit cards are almost maxed out. This is the tough side of “living as a poor man.” Picasso understood this pressure and that’s why he added “with lots of money” to his wish. He wanted to remove financial stress so he could focus on enjoying life, doing what he loved, and spending time with people he cared about. He didn’t want to spend all his time just trying to make more and more money to keep up with a fancy lifestyle.
Having enough money to cover our basic needs like food, housing, and clothing is essential for a comfortable life. But the real question is, when is “enough,” enough? Chasing after Lots Of Money can sometimes lead us away from the things that truly make us happy.
When I started my own architecture business last year, this question of “enough” became very real. I watched money flow out for startup costs, software, equipment, office supplies, insurance, and marketing. The expenses seemed never-ending.
My first reaction was to work harder and longer, trying to bring in more projects and more income. But in architecture, projects don’t appear instantly. This approach just made me exhausted and stressed. I was losing the joy in my work and the life I was trying to build for myself, my business, and my clients. Working harder to get lots of money was actually making me less happy.
While loving your work and working hard can be rewarding, you can reach a point where you become so focused on work and the financial side of things that you forget why you started in the first place. The pursuit of lots of money can overshadow the passion.
Fortunately, I realized I needed to find my “enough point.” I decided to block out Sundays completely and told myself I would not work seven days a week anymore, no matter what. No work at all on Sundays, not even emails. This small change gave me one day a week to focus on my personal life, my health, and my relationships with friends and family.
From there, I started planning project deadlines to be around the same time. This allowed me to take real breaks between project phases to recharge and spend quality time with loved ones before starting the next round of work. Instead of constantly grinding for lots of money, I began to value periods of rest and rejuvenation.
Recently, this approach allowed me to spend a week with my family in San Diego over Easter. We cooked meals together, biked around Mission Bay, spent time at the beach, and visited the zoo. Those days, focused on simple pleasures and connection with family, reminded me that we are born to live, not just to work. Life is about more than just accumulating lots of money.
Each morning during that vacation, I would wake up early and do some essential work to stay on top of urgent business. But once my family was up and ready for breakfast, I would close my laptop and put work away for the day. Trying to squeeze in a few more billable hours while on vacation with family just isn’t worth it when time with loved ones is so much more valuable. Lots of money can’t buy back missed moments.
It’s important to remember that everyone, in every job, needs time off. Vacation time, sick leave, and holidays are crucial for our well-being, our health, and for nurturing our relationships. No amount of business success or lots of money is worth it if you’re too burnt out to enjoy it.
Learn to recognize when “enough is enough.” Then, take the time to enjoy the rewards of your efforts and live your life to the fullest. True wealth isn’t just about lots of money; it’s about a rich and balanced life.
