I have a simple question for you. What would you do if you had $20,000,000 in your bank account? But here is the catch; you are not allowed to spend any of it. That twenty million has to stay in the account untouched and the only money you are allowed to spend is the interest accumulated.

Now let’s assume a “hefty” 1% annual interest rate

That amounts to $200,000 in interest per year in your pocket. That is more than enough money to live comfortably without any risk of stress due to your lack of finances. For the majority of us, that’s a pretty decent amount of money. So think to yourself, what would you do with it?

First off you would probably quit your job, especially if it pays less than 200k. Now you have a ton of free time at your disposal and $200,000 to spend. Initially, EVERYONE says they would travel; you would be insane if you didn’t. Seeing the different cultures and beauties the world has to offer is something everyone should experience yet many people can only dream of. If you’re going to spend your money, you would be much happier if you spent it on an experience rather than something material and irrelevant like jewelry or a car.

Some time passes…

Now you’ve traveled the world and you’ve even picked out your favorite destinations that you’ll revisit. Even though traveling to new places can be exhilarating and eye-opening, eventually you would grow weary of airplane rides and the constant commute from city to city. So now, you’re back in your home town or city and you’re bored again. Now what are you going to do with all of your money?

Yeah, we all would party or satisfy our impulsive cravings for material goods, but the thrill in all those things eventually diminishes. What would you do every day to occupy yourself? Simply sitting and watching TV won’t make the cut. If we do not keep ourselves occupied we will just rot away.

You don’t have to worry about money, so what would you want your job to be? It can be anything from waiting tables and glass blowing to being a heart surgeon or sky-diving instructor. The point is that when money is taken out of the formula, the only option that makes sense to anyone is the one that follows the heart. If you have always dreamt of being a doctor then go be a doctor. If you have always wanted to dance then GO DANCE! If entrepreneurship is your lifelong dream and you fear that you may not succeed or make money take the risk! We let money influence our life decisions; but when the day comes that you’re making tons of money working at a place that makes you want to rip your hair out, you’ll wish you listened to your instincts in the first place.

The purpose of this question is not for me to figure out your spending habits, but rather to help you find where your heart is set. The process of making money is much more fun than actually having money, because once you have it you begin to realize that it is not all that it is built up to be. It won’t buy you happiness, it won’t find you love, and it sure as hell doesn’t make for lasting friendships.

And that ladies and gentlemen, is the $20,000,000 question