Good Morning Faithful Readers!
Ch. Four: Finding A Higher Calling Than Cash
Working primarily for money is little more than a modern-day form of bribery. We know non-financial incentives – such as recognition, attention, respect, and responsibility – can be more effective than financial incentives. Self-employed entrepreneur and author Tom Rath writes instead of starting with classic economics to prioritize his time schedule, he now begins by asking how his time can make a difference for others. He has found that leading with this fundamental question before delving into the financial aspects, usually leads to better choices.
Avoid Upward Comparison
When researchers looked at the actual differences in life satisfaction that a sudden doubling of income ($25k to $55k), it did boost happiness – by 9 percent. Nine percent is better than 0 percent, but, as one of the study’s authors put it, “It’s still kind of a letdown when you were expecting a 100 percent return.” It’s important to note that financial security is vital to your well-being. Constant worry about being able to pay off debt can lead to stress, fear, and uncertainty. Yet, if you are able to reach a level of basic financial security, making more money becomes less important for your daily well-being. At much higher income levels, increases in annual pay are unlikely to produce any real effect. Simply judging the success of career based on the amount of money you make can quickly lead you astray. Ask yourself a few basic questions: Are your relationships stronger because of your job? Id your physical health better because of the organization you are part of? Are you contributing more to society because of what you do every day?
The more you focus your efforts on others, the easier it is to do great work without being dependent on external rewards like money, power, or fame. A fortune will always be relative to the person who has more, and fame is fleeting. While you may be rewarded with a large bonus or major recognition at certain times, most days consist of making a little forward progress without external reward. This is why identifying meaning and purpose in the process of your daily work is essential.
BOTTOM LINE:
Whenever possible, get your motivation from doing things that contribute to a collective good. Incentives based on group performance have been shown to boost innovation more than individual incentives. Instead of focusing solely on your own performance at work, find a way to gauge the performance of your team, be they marriage, children, grandchildren, church, SS class, small group, nephews, nieces, etc. Then put your energy into helping the recipient person/body achieve. Working toward a shared mission with other people will add a positive charge to each day.
NEXT UP:
What The World Needs in the Employment Sector