There’s been a lot of media write-up over studies that show Millennials would rather have fulfilling jobs with low salaries than jobs they didn’t enjoy but came with high salaries. Gen Y doesn’t seem to be as driven by money and success as they are by wanting to make a difference.

And there are existing stereotypes in place for creatives, for people working in nonprofits, for those who want to make a difference first and a living second. Think of the poor writer or the starving artist; we’re conditioned to think in order to do good, creative, or meaningful work in the world, that typically requires a conscious shunning of material wealth — and money.

Additionally, movements like Occupy Wall Street lead us to believe that it’s the majority of us against the minority of them, and the wealthy minority oppress the poor majority.

Combine these concepts and ideas, and you have many members of the Millennial generation who do actively think money is bad and evil. Or the only people who work to grow their own wealth do so because they’re greedy or driven by mixed-up priorities and values.

But is this necessarily the case? Does wanting money to grow your wealth mean you’re greedy? [Read more…]