Generally speaking, I went through that. I came to a place where I realised what true value was. It wasn't money. Money is a means to achieving an end, but it's not the end.

The Tool vs. The Goal

There's a particular moment many people hit—usually after chasing money harder than they expected to—where the whole thing suddenly looks different. You realize you've been treating the scoreboard as if it were the actual game. Redford's point isn't that money doesn't matter. It's that we often confuse the tool with the actual goal, which usually involves something messier and more human: security for people you love, time to do work that feels meaningful, the ability to say no to things that drain you.

The trap is that money feels like it is the end because it's so visible and measurable. You can always get more of it, always improve the number, which makes it easier to pursue than the vague thing you actually want. But once basic needs are met, an extra hundred thousand dollars rarely delivers what you thought it would. What actually sticks is different for everyone—it might be autonomy, creative expression, respect, or just not feeling rushed all the time.

The real shift happens when you flip the question. Instead of "how much can I earn?" you start asking "what do I actually need money for?" The answer usually isn't money at all.