Rob Perkins turned down a $17,500 film job he knew would damage his mental health. Earlier in his career he would have taken it out of desperation, but savings and investment returns gave him the cushion to say no. True wealth isn't high income that funds an expensive lifestyle, it's the freedom to decline work that costs your sanity.
A few years ago, I was offered a job that would have paid me $17,500. That's real money, but the situation was toxic. It was the kind of project where you already know what it's going to cost you mentally before it even begins. Earlier in my career, I probably would have accepted it. I would have told myself, it's only a few weeks and the money's too good. You never know when the next job will be coming. This is how I used to get trapped. I accepted work I didn't want because I needed the money more than I needed my sanity. But this time, I I said no. I still cared about $17,500. I simply had enough money saved to make the job a choice instead of an emergency. Savings gave me the power to say no. Investing gave me the belief that my money could eventually create more options. High income can buy you a more expensive life, but wealth buys you options.
