rating motivation?

I talked to a higher rated person and he said to me I should have a goal to become at least 1700 rated player this would encourage me to play better.
He said I might sit on my hands longer in order not to make an error that will lose rating.
However I've never been interested in rating I think rating comes when I deserve it automatically.
I care more about playing good moves - move by move rather than going after a number I can't control.
is he right, should I care more about rating and study harder to become higher rated?
I think a better goal would be to win a tournament.

I think the washing machine goes with the dryer, if you know what I mean

Quite right - Better moves higher rating / lower rating possibly not so good moves. Mmm see the correlation ?

 you both right. in here I only use 1 minute on a move I don't care if I lose or win except for team match there I choose to fight for the team.

In the tournaments I play otb I have started to use more time on each move; however so do my opponents. I have only played chess for four years in a club never school chess.
A lot of my opponents are higher rated than me however I managed to win games by spotting a tactic. I have done a lot of tactics excercises, looked into some opening.
but the point with my post is that I find no motivation trying to get a higher rating. Should I try to worry about rating?
I think rating comes automatically when I deserve it.
The higher rated person mentioned to be that if I am in the tournament he is expected to win more points than if I entered with a higher rating.

That makes it sound like he's more concerned with his own outcome, rather than trying to give you good advice.  I think you're approaching it well-- play to improve, and as you do, the rating will follow.

 "Should I try to worry about rating?"

No No & Do Not, Worry is not good in life as in chess, be positive, learn from your mistakes, play time controls that suit you, stay focused and most of all enjoy the game. (Its not so easy to enjoy a rating) That fluxtuates for most of us, its the game that counts not the number.