Grow Up: We Work For Money
Posted on 16. April 2009 by Laurie RuettimannDuring the past couple of weeks, readers of my blog keep telling me that people aren’t motivated by money. We are motivated by something greater — love, appreciation, or creating a sense of community. Unfortunately, those readers are wrong. We work for money and we are motivated to work harder when we are paid more.
I want to know why is this so hard to admit?
I have some theories.
- I think it’s tough to admit we work for money because we’ve turned Corporate America into a co-dependent nanny-state. We are offered health benefits, emotional fulfillment, and a sense of community instead of paychecks.
- Instead of leaving the nest and becoming full-fledged adults, many of us join the working world and recreate the dysfunctional families we have at home.
- We hate our bosses, we despise the long hours, and we are victimized by stupid team-building exercises; however, we don’t know how to survive without all the drama and activity. We also don’t know how to survive without our allowance/paycheck and the safety and security that our parents/employers provide to us in the form of welfare benefits.
When you admit to yourself that your job is just a job — and when you take accountability for your own emotional needs and mental health — you have power. Be a decent person, foster a sense of community with the people you love, and grow up.
4 Comments on “ Grow Up: We Work For Money ”
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You people that claim that you work for anything other than (or more than) money are delusional. Ask yourself this question, and be honest: If you were NOT getting paid (MONEY) would you still do THIS JOB? In 90% of the cases (maybe more) the answer is HELL NO. Now, you may do something else if you weren’t getting paid and you may even refer to that something else as work but it’s not. It’s doing something that you truly love without compensation. That’s not work. That’s love. And if your answer is that you would still come to your corporate job and do what you do for no money then I really feel sorry for you.
Posted on 17. April 2009 at 04:52
Judging by the massive debt people have accumulated and the desire to satisfy one’s desire before they have the means to afford it (ie, there is no delayed gratification in our society any longer – we live beyond our means), people definitely work for the money and put up with a lot in doing so. Duh.
Posted on 18. April 2009 at 15:01
I used to get paid a large salary working in a ‘corporate’ structure. I would walk in to the office in the mornings and say, “I can’t believe I get paid to do this.” I have two points: I loved what I was doing and I was paid very well. I didn’t do it for the money. I was there because I knew what I was doing made a difference.
I have never worked for the money. Money is a byproduct of doing what your passion is. If you are really good at what you do, you will be rewarded.
Work is not an adequate word to define getting compensated for excelling at what you do in the arena in which you are passionate. Work to me is just a job and if you work at a job you get paid money. There is a huge difference to me.
If you do what you love
Posted on 19. April 2009 at 13:30
I believe most people ultimately want respect in the workplace, which is defined (by realists anyway) as fair pay and fair treatment. The rest is psycho-babble. Your employer is not going to help you self-actualize. That’s our job as individuals.
Posted on 20. April 2009 at 07:06