3 Things Money Can’t Buy: Naval Ravikant
Everyone’s Chasing More: More Success, More Money, More Status.
What inspired me to make this video was coming across a tweet by the American entrepreneur Naval Ravikant.
The tweet goes something like this:
There are 3 things that money cannot buy. The first is a fit body, the second is a calm mind, and the third is a house full of love.
In this article, I’m going to explain these 3 things in a bit more detail, of course, with my own spin on them.
#1 Money Can’t Buy Fitness
A great way to start this section is by highlighting what money can—and cannot—do for your health and fitness.
What Money Can Buy
Gym Memberships: Money can grant you access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.
Top Personal Trainers: With enough resources, you can work with some of the best trainers in the industry.
Personal Chefs: Money can buy you custom meal plans and professionally prepared, nutritious meals.
So, can money help you with your health and fitness journey?
Absolutely. The keyword in the sentence above is help.
What Money Can’t Buy
Effort: Money can't do your push-ups for you.
Discipline: No amount of money will load a barbell or perform a deadlift on your behalf.
Consistency: You have to show up and put in the work—this is the true beauty of fitness. You must earn your results.
Fitness as a Modern Status Symbol
In today’s world, where obesity rates are skyrocketing, having a fit and athletic body has become a true status symbol.
I read somewhere (so please take this with a grain of salt) that in America, there are more millionaires than people with six-pack abs.
Whether or not that’s statistically accurate, I don’t know.
But if it is true, that is absolutely insane!
The Simple Path to Results
The good news? You don’t need to be a gym rat to see impressive results:
3x full-body workouts per week
Daily walks
Proper sleep
Stress management techniques
Nutritious eating (wholefoods)
If you can stay consistent with these habits, achieving a fit, athletic physique is more than attainable.
#2 Money Can't Buy A Calm Mind
You’ll often hear people say that with more money comes more problems. But on the flip side, you’ll also hear people say that with more money comes fewer problems.
To be honest, the truth lies somewhere in the middle because it depends on the individual.
A perfect example of money being a problem for a rich person is the English entrepreneur Felix Dennis. Yes, Felix Dennis was highly successful, but he struggled with addiction problems—he was addicted to crack cocaine and prostitutes.
So, in Felix Dennis’s case, was having huge amounts of money a good thing?
Probably not.
Another very good example of money being a problem for a rich person is Mike Tyson.
When Tyson was in his boxing prime, he wasn’t financially literate, basically spending money like there was no tomorrow.
And again, just like Felix Dennis, Mike Tyson had issues with addiction.
The reason I’m sharing these examples is because money is really an amplifier—it simply amplifies your personality.
For example, if you have an addictive personality, money will exaggerate that. On the other hand, if you’re someone who has your head screwed on and can avoid bad habits, then money will probably benefit you in the long run and be good for your mental health.
You see, money is a tool and just like a hammer it can be used for both good and bad.
For example:
A hammer can be used to hammer a nail, but it can also be used to knock somebody’s head off.
Money is exactly the same. In the right hands, it is a fantastic tool, but in the wrong hands, it can be a dangerous weapon.
The lesson here, inspired by Naval, is this:
Before you even contemplate becoming rich, have your life in order.
Make sure your foundations are solid. Because if you come into a large amount of money and your life is chaotic and messy, it’s kind of like building a skyscraper on quicksand.
#3 Money Can't Buy A House Full Of Love
So, the age-old question: Can money buy you happiness?
The answer is both yes and no.
If you’re someone who’s struggling to make ends meet and your basic needs aren’t being met because you’re not earning enough, then the lack of money will probably make you miserable.
On the other hand, you could be extremely rich but constantly comparing yourself to your neighbor, always chasing more and more money because you’re never satisfied with what you have.
So in the scenario above the rich person, even though he has money is not happy.
Once your basic needs are met, if you want happiness, you’ll find it in relationships—not in material possessions.
Money can’t buy a house full of love.
A house full of love is something that must be earned, and to earn this, you simply have to make time for your loved ones.
That means going on date nights with your wife or girlfriend at least once a week, spending quality time with your children, and making time for your friends.
It also means being able to resolve conflicts constructively, because if you’re unable to do that, there will be problems further down the line.
I highly recommend, you check out this article here, where I discuss long-term relationships in a bit more detail.
Bonus: Money Can't Buy Respect
What you'll tend to see is that many people mistake admiration for respect, but they're not the same thing.
For example, I admire Floyd Mayweather's boxing ability—his skill in defending himself and his ability to avoid getting hit. He's undoubtedly one of the best boxers of all time.
But do I respect him as a man?
The answer is a resounding no, and that has everything to do with his behavior.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. often goes on social media to advertise his so-called "money lifestyle." Personally, that doesn't sit well with me, and that's why I don't respect him.
But on the other hand, some people might argue that, as an athlete, he needs to sell fights, and that's simply part of his job.
And you know what? They have a fair point.
I'm simply using this as an example to illustrate that money cannot buy respect—you have to earn it.
And you do that through your behavior.