The Surprising Advice Kourtney Kardashian Got That Made Her Even Richer

Keeping Up with the Kardashians fans will never forget when Kim Kardashian slammed Kourtney Kardashian as the "the least exciting to look at," but there was much more to the spat than sisters fighting over a Christmas card photoshoot. Their dispute came down to scheduling conflicts, which prompted Kim to question Kourtney's work ethic. During the 2018 episode, Kim told her sister, "Maybe if you had a f***ing business that you were passionate about then you would know what it takes to run a f***ing business but you don't, so don't even act like you know what I'm talking about." (This was before Kourtney started her lifestyle website Poosh.)

At this point, Kourtney was a part of the reality show and business deals with her sisters, but she didn't have any high-profile business ventures of her own. Instead, she was very vocal about prioritizing her three children. Kim has slammed Kourtney's work ethic multiple times, which prompted Kourtney to tweet in April 2020: "I realize that a lot of the conversation right now surrounds my work ethic, and I feel like I need to just make one thing clear: raising children is a job as well."

It's not as if Kourtney has ever been hurting for cash. She doesn't need to jump on every single business opportunity that comes her way. Instead, she has a different set of priorities, which align with advice that she received from her late father, Robert Kardashian, Sr. 

Kourtney Kardashian's father helped shape her business outlook

During an entrepreneurship event in 2019, Kourtney Kardashian discussed advice that her late father, Robert Kardashian, Sr., had given her. She recalled to CNBC, "The biggest thing that my dad always told us was just that money doesn't buy happiness. He would drill that into our heads." Of course, he wasn't the only person who's ever said that, but anyone who's followed Kourtney's career can see how she's applied that mindset. Jessica Caver Lindholm, an author, speaker, money expert, and CEO/founder of To Living Free, spoke to Nicki Swift about Robert's advice for his children. Lindholm said, "Most people think money is the solution for almost anything. When this happens, people tend to prioritize the ways they can make the most money, even if it's by doing something that makes them miserable."

Instead of inviting "the addiction to struggle and sacrifice" into her life, Kourtney knew early on that money doesn't actually buy contentment. Lindholm acknowledged, "Money does create freedom, but if you hate what you have to do to get it, it's not worth it." Case in point: Kourtney announced her decision to step back from reality TV in 2019. Lindholm explained, "Kourtney makes it her goal to prioritize her passions, desires, lifestyle, and her family first, which are the things at the very core of her life." As a result, Kourtney is "able to make decisions based off of what would make her happy over anything else."

Kourtney Kardashian prioritizes her own happiness

As To Living Free CEO/founder Jessica Caver Lindholm explained to Nicki Swift, "Kourtney doesn't live her life how she would without money, she lives her life with total knowing that she's provided for financially and that by following her passions she will be able to create and receive more money." Lindholm said, "By making happiness the priority over money, Kourtney doesn't put herself in situations that would cause her to sacrifice what's actually important to her (like time with her family or kids) or struggle doing things that didn't feel in line with her integrity or passions in order to make money."

Lindholm believes Kourtney "manifests more money" by "feeling how you would feel now if you were already rich" — not that Kourtney was ever "poor" by any stretch of the imagination. While Kourtney has received flack from her sisters for her perceived lack of work ethic, she's just particular about her time, which she explained to Vogue Arabia in July 2020. Kourtney said, "People have this misconception that I don't want to work, which isn't true. I am following my happiness and putting my energy into that which makes me happy." 

Lindholm remarked, "I've found that wealthy people love to work, because they've found something they're truly passionate about that also supports them in creating more wealth. And Kourtney exemplifies this by creating wealth from what makes her happiest, so of course she loves doing it!" See: Her lifestyle venture with Poosh!

Kourtney Kardashian changes course when she feels unfulfilled

By prioritizing what makes her genuinely happy, Kourtney Kardashian has found business success. Money expert Jessica Caver Lindholm explained to Nicki Swift, "Kourtney already has the evidence that following what makes her the happiest also makes her the most money," citing the Kardashians sisters' decision to close down their DASH clothing stores in 2017. Lindholm reiterated, "Even when she didn't have evidence for herself that what makes her the happiest will also be the most profitable, her father gave her great advice early on that money doesn't buy happiness, which has always helped her to stay focused on what was most important."

When Kourtney scaled back her commitment to Keeping Up With the Kardashians, she gave herself "the freedom to pursue new opportunities with even more financial possibilities that align with her goals and passions," according to Lindholm. Lindholm credited Kourtney for "turning her passions into profits" when she launched her lifestyle website Poosh. (Poosh explores such lifestyle topics as "food, kids, beauty and fashion," according to Kourtney, via Fashionista.) Lindholm elaborated, "When we're passionate about something, the next step is usually to share it with others, and if you're sharing it with others anyway you may as well get paid for it."

Lindholm summed it up perfectly: "Abundance flourishes when we're feeling inspired and excited about life." Kourtney may be "the least exciting to look at," but she's excited about life and that's paid off for her, literally.