Money & the meaning of life: Part 4

Now let's go to the top of that same company. I'm the CEO and founder. I have thousands of people working for me, my picture is on the cover of "Business Week" and I have a net worth of $450 million. How do I escape being a megalomaniac?

That's an important question. I met a guy who worked his way up from zero to a half-billion dollars. I asked him, "What was the most surprising thing you discovered when you got rich?" He said, "Everybody asks my opinion about things because they think I know something. All I really know is how to make a lot of money." See, this guy wasn't fooled by his money. That's the key.

Ask people to remember the first time they ever held a large amount of money, and how it felt. Most will tell you it was like electricity flowing into their hands. I know that's how I felt the first time I held a $1,000 bill.

That excitement is something we all have to acknowledge as part of ourselves. It's important not to deny it. I'm as eager and egoistic and greedy as the next guy. The thing that is so important for these new millionaires is to see this greed not only in themselves but also in others, and to see the effect that it has on others. The more money you have the more likely you are to be surrounded by "yes" men. You must seek out people who disagree with you.

You need people around to tell you you're full of shit -- and be able to appreciate them for that. Too many successful people look with hostility upon anyone who disagrees with them. That's something they don't want to hear. That's a very big mistake.

Based on your encounters with the super-rich, is there ever a time when they can put down their egos for a moment?

Death is the great equalizer. I've seen that phenomenon many times. I've had people in my classes come to me, men and women over 50 years old, and they say, "I made it. I'm rich. But what the hell is my life for?" (via fastcompany).