You don’t need a ton of money, fame, and success to create your best work.

The other day, I stumbled across a video of MGMT performing their hit single Kids on a college campus back in 2003 (linked below!).

Funny thing is, this track wasn’t officially released until 2005—and it didn’t land on a studio album with proper distribution until 2008.

Fast forward to 2009, and Kids won a Grammy.

If you compare that early version with the polished one, you’ll notice a few production tweaks here and there, but at its core, it’s the same catchy song.

The essence was always there.

MGMT could have released the track in 2005, seen limited success, and called it quits.

But instead, they kept going.

Why? I’d argue it’s because they were having fun, finding fulfillment, and staying true to the process.

That passion probably kept them moving forward—and is ultimately what made them a success.

If they’d been chasing money alone, their story might have turned out very differently.

Artists and entrepreneurs aren’t all that different.

It’s not just about the payout; it’s about keeping the essence alive and sharing your value.