[slededit]

You think of money as a way to buy things. Others think of it for what it really is - a way to gain influence and control.

[mywittyname]

Sure, but wanting influence and control is somewhat the opposite of the desire for a leisurely life.

[slededit]

I strongly disagree with the premise. I can’t think of any industrial titans who retired to leisure. Those who tried or were forced into it seemed to die shortly after.

Henry Ford perhaps came closest with 20 years of only “unofficial” control of the company he founded.

[jriot]

Psychosis is still an appropriate term for people who want to gain influence and control.

[slededit]

That would make the diagnosis so common as to be meaningless.

[jriot]

Just because a large number of people seek control, power, and influence does not make it a worthy venture. It is a terrible trait.

[joefourier]

What if you want to gain influence and control in order to make a positive impact on the world?

[jriot]

People who wish to gain influence in order to make a positive impact typically aren't trying to make a positive difference, they're trying to gain notoriety . You can make a positive impact in the world without gaining influence.