Money, money — that's what college kids want

Cynthia McKay, owner of Le Gourmet Gift Inc., overseeing 510 franchises:
In undergrad studies I was preparing for medical school. I wanted to be very wealthy like my parents, live well and ultimately start an animal shelter for sick and abandoned dogs and cats. However, I took the Medical (College) Admissions Test and flunked. I changed direction and landed in law school, again hoping to make a great deal of money with a firm.

After graduation, I landed what I thought was my dream job making six figures. I hated it. Instead of money, I realized I just wanted peace of mind.

Tom Glocer, CEO of Reuters:
Making money did not figure at the top of my list — it wasn't really a goal, more of an inevitable byproduct of what I wanted to do: apply technology to change the way things were done.

Being open to money-making opportunities is not a bad thing. Running your life at age 19 as if this is the secret to happiness in life is.

Dan Garvey, president of Prescott College in Prescott, Ariz.:
I was sociology major in college and I realized that institutions were the driving forces within various cultures. The family, religion, education, etc. helped us organize our thoughts and make sense of the world. I determined that I’d put my all into making education a healthy institution for all concerned. I thought I’d be a teacher, but I soon learned that my skills and interests were better suited to the organization of education as a system vs. the education of students.

I never thought about being rich. I learned at a young age growing up in rural New England that there was no correlation between money and happiness. I’ve always measured successful by my ability to make a positive difference.

Jeff Stibel, CEO of Web.com:
In 1994, during my junior year at Tufts University, I finally figured out what I wanted to do for a living — become an entrepreneur.  It wasn’t a goal of mine until my junior year mainly because I wasn’t sure what I really wanted to be “when I grew up.”  Everyone talked of becoming a lawyer or heading into corporate America, but it was never all that interesting to me.

I wanted to be successful (and) have fun and becoming an entrepreneur was the best way I thought I could get there. Dreams of riches were not a driving force for me. Becoming a success and doing what I really want to do is what's driving me.

Carol C. Norman, principal at Carrcroft Elementary, my kindergartener’s school:
When I first started as a freshman, my goal was to get a degree in elementary education. I was interested in little children because I felt that’s where you could have the most influence and still be able to mold them, when they’re young.

Money did not come into the picture at all. My mother and father told us as long as you work hard you can provide for yourself and your family.

Ask even young kids today what they want and they say, “to be rich.” You can have money but still not be rich in happiness.

Conclusion
Maybe all these people are just blowing smoke, doing a bit of revisionist history so they look high-minded now. But maybe that’s how they really remember it.

How will you look back on the goals you make today?

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