I Did It Just For The Money...

About this video

• Video Title: I Did It Just For The Money...
• Channel: According to Nicole
• Speakers: Nicole
• Duration: 14:37

Overview

In this video, Nicole explores the societal stigma around doing things "just for the money" and questions its validity. She shares personal experiences of feeling unfulfilled in jobs solely for financial gain, contrasted with her later business ventures where she prioritized passion and values. Nicole also touches upon the "sellout" mentality in art and discusses the ethical implications of wealthy individuals taking lucrative jobs that may conflict with their stated values. The video culminates with a personal update about her dog Levi's serious illness, explaining that the current video is being made partly to help cover escalating veterinary bills, reframing "doing it for the money" as a necessary means to care for a loved one.

Key takeaways

• Money and Ethics Intertwined: The video acknowledges that money is a significant part of life and often intersects with ethical considerations.
• Personal Fulfillment vs. Financial Gain: The speaker recounts negative experiences with jobs that provided money but lacked personal fulfillment, leading to feelings of being exploited and disingenuous.
• Shifting Priorities: As life progresses, personal goals evolve, and the necessity of earning money for significant life events (like buying a home) can lead to doing tasks one isn't passionate about.
• The "Sellout" Stigma: The video traces the origin of the "sellout" stigma, particularly in art and music, back to subcultures like punk rock, but argues this perspective is often flawed.
• Critique of Wealthy Individuals' Choices: The speaker criticizes wealthy celebrities for taking large sums of money for projects that contradict their publicly held values or moral stances, suggesting their motivation is purely financial and lacks justification due to their existing wealth.
• Normalizing Earning for Security: For most people, earning money is essential for security and well-being, and there's nothing inherently wrong with this motivation, especially when it supports oneself and one's family.
• Business Realities: Running a channel like this operates as a business, requiring consistency and content creation even when not entirely motivated by passion, to ensure sustainability and income.
• Personal Circumstance: The speaker is making this specific video partly to earn money to cover extensive veterinary bills for her sick dog, Levi, reframing "doing it for the money" as a necessary act of care.