I am a dude. Don't want to share too much about what I'm doing in my life right now, or my future trajectory, but suffice to say, I will be in the 80-120 or 150K income bracket, doing something that I've built enough traction in.
But it appears that almost any friend that I talk to, including my own sister, seem to be in some sort of a trance, in their assumption that 80K is not enough money. I'm even aiming for 70-80k which is way below average in my line of work, simply because of my personal cost of living. My sister said something along the lines of "Don't cap yourself at 100K, always go higher than that." What if I don't want to? I don't NEED more than that. Especially not if I have to put in more time, energy, and my mind, body, and possible gray hairs, lines on my face, aging from stress, etc to get it. I'm perfectly ok to one day be a 40 year old who looks way younger, simply because I didn't have to smoke and medicate my way through Anesthesiology specialty, etc. and all the extra stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, rotations, etc from that.
Over the past 6 years or so, I've inculcated minimalism into every aspect of my life. After reading TONS and tons of books on the topic, my mind is basically programmed to understand that I don't actually need millions of dollars in order to live a comfortable and content life.
I also grew up playing GTA, with delusions of growing up owning a pent house or something, but as I've gotten older, my delusions subsided and I realized I don't actually want or need a penthouse, lamborghini, etc. Heck, I don't even want a Tesla. An Acura has always been my favorite car. At some point, I was in the matrix of "Wife and Kids when I grow up" phase. But realized in my life I don't actually want a wife, kids, or a picket fence house, etc.
My version of happiness and contentment is: As long as I'm making even 70K in my life, have access to a decent gym, enough protein, a comfortable home that is clean and quiet, decision-free clothing, and a beautiful, comfortable car, I'm actually happy and golden in life. I have a friend, trying to convince me that "You should use your GI Bill to pursue CAA man, you have all the pre-meds and your masters degree, you're qualified for it! You will make 2-250 grand a year!" But the whole spending another 2-3 years in school, rotation, etc etc....just to add 100-200K to my earning potential, doesn't seem like something I really care about.
It seems to me like nowadays, unless you have 6 digits on your W-2, you're somehow lost in life? When in reality, the average salaries here in the states are in the 40s or 50s. Has social media really brainwashed everyone to assume they're going to be CEOs and Millionaires? I honestly don't see the appeal in being a millionaire. I would probably be one of those Millionaires who lives in a normal looking suburban home. You wouldn't know I have 3 million dollars.