196: Moby | What to Do When Success Makes You Miserable

Animal Rights

Moby's commitment to animal rights is evident in his unconventional philanthropy. He channels all profits from his restaurant, books, and music to animal rights organizations, reflecting a shift from self-centeredness to service. Moby explains his transformation, saying, "I got sober 10 years ago and realized that the years I spent obsessively self-involved... I don't even recognize that person."

Like make music, put it out into the world, don't expect to make money from it and if you can try and be of service trying to help people. I'm trying to apply that ethos to everything that I do.

--- Moby

His goal is to ensure his professional life supports causes he cares about, despite skepticism from others 1 2.

   

Music Activism

Moby has redefined his career by prioritizing activism over music, using his platform to advance animal rights. He describes music as his hobby and activism as his job, focusing on understanding and service. Moby's approach is to "make music, put it out into the world, don't expect to make money from it," highlighting his dedication to causes over commercial success.

The absurdity of like my first job in the music business was getting three dollars and 25 cents an hour playing on Monday nights for like methadone addicts and drunks and just couldn't be in any way interested in what I was doing and then the change from that to when things became more, I guess financially lucrative.

--- Moby

This shift underscores his belief in using his resources for meaningful impact rather than personal gain 3 1.