I'm not trying to make friends, I'm trying to make money. — Kevin O'Leary

I'm not trying to make friends, I'm trying to make money.

Author: Kevin O'Leary

Insight: There's a clarity in this statement that cuts through a lot of modern workplace confusion. We've been sold on the idea that work should be a place where you're also best friends with colleagues, where the company culture is like a family, and where fulfillment comes from the relationships. But that's not always realistic—and pretending it is can actually make you worse at your job. The real insight isn't that you should be cold or ruthless. It's that mixing friendship and professional incentives creates messy conflicts. When money is at stake, interests diverge. The colleague who's genuinely your friend in a crisis might still compete for a promotion you both want. Acknowledging this upfront, rather than convincing yourself you're all on the same team, actually lets you be more direct and fair. The tricky part is that this ruthlessness has limits. People do better work in environments with some trust and respect. The point isn't to be transactional with everyone around you—it's to be honest about what a business relationship is. You can be professional, courteous, even pleasant without needing to blur the lines. Sometimes the friendliest thing you can do is simply be straightforward about your goals and let everyone else do the same.