Money Amplifies Character

Patrick Campbell shares his perspective on wealth after selling his company Profitwell for over $200M. He emphasizes that money primarily amplifies existing personality traits rather than fundamentally changing who you are.

Key Points:

• Money's Impact on Personality:

  • "It amplifies the worst in you and the best in you"
  • You remain fundamentally the same person
  • Previous habits and tendencies become more pronounced

• Personal Experience Post-Wealth:

  • Expected money would make him healthier through access to better resources
  • Instead found himself able to indulge more in unhealthy habits
  • Went from having $20,000 in bank account to significant wealth in months
  • Still adjusting to the wealth after only 2 months

• Philosophy on Wealth:

  • References Teddy Roosevelt's "Strenuous Life" speech
  • Believes those given advantages have a duty to:
    • "Go be strenuous again"
    • Make big swings
    • Take on significant challenges
  • Focuses on tackling major problems rather than pursuing easy money
    • Interested in fixing democracy, defense, debt
    • Less interested in purely profitable ventures

• Approach to Post-Exit Life:

  • Continuing to work with acquiring company (Paddle)
  • Wants to experience taking a company through public offering
  • Using wealth to learn and tackle bigger challenges
  • Reinvesting most of the money rather than spending on luxury items