Secret To A Billion Dollar Idea

After watching The Social Network for the first time (so late) a huge question came to me; are you motivated by money or passion? I begin to wonder what separates the "greats" from people who are just successful? What makes someone become known as the best in their field or craft? What leads someone to billion dollar ideas like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg?

I sat in the movies and watched a guy dedicate hour after hour to a network idea, without ever thinking about the idea of making money, and more about creating the best social network to ever hit the Internet. I watched a guy sit at his laptop and never stop at adding new features to his site that could take his creation to the next level. While people around him wondered about how much money could be made from this creation, and others sat around partying away because of small triumphs, Mark dedicated his time to simply creating.

Is that the secret? Everyone is motivated by different things, but is the secret to huge success to concentrate more on creating the best product you can, and not worrying about how much money it will generate? Do you stop looking for the secret to a billion dollar idea, and focus more on just creating an extremely amazing product?

It seems to me that if you take the time to really study those people that we consider extremely successful in their fields, or the "best" in their fields, most of them spent more time focused on their actual talent or product, then the actual money aspect. Bill Gates wanted to make software, Jay Z wanted to be the best rapper, and Mark Zuckerberg wanted to create the greatest social network. They put hours into just that, and as a result success and money came.

Don't get me wrong, there is probably not that many people in the world that don't think about money, and of course that probably was a goal for them all, but which part did they focus the most on?

When your goal is simply money, then at any point it is thrown your way, you can give up on your vision. Think about people who sold their ideas just to make millions, and now their products are worth billions. The founder of Victoria Secret come to mind when I think of people who let go of their vision early in the game. I think about rappers who were so excited when they got their first checks,that rapping is a thing of the past for them. Money was their ultimate goals, and thus they lost focus very soon in the game.

I know that for a lot of people it is hard to stay focused on their ideas and goals when money comes into play, because a lot of people never had. So I truly understand the struggle that a lot of people have. But if at some point people are able to get pass this thirst for something they never had, and concentrate on putting all they can into their craft, the money will come. The success will surely come.

Most "greats" seem to never stop creating and taking their ideas to the next level. These people clearly are thinking beyond the dollar bills. I am not sure what makes a person successful at the end of the day, and I am sure there are tons of things. One thing is for sure, there is nothing in the world that could stop a person who is passionate about their craft.

One thing that stuck out to me in the movie was when Mark was asked what is the end goal of Facebook? He said there is no end. He said it is like fashion, it keeps going and re-creating itself. When you think like this, you are willing to put the work in to expand on your product or idea. When you think that the end is making money, you stop as soon as the money comes.

What motivates you...money or passion?

-The Socialite