Why We Work
The reasons we keep showing up
For most of us work is not an end in itself. It is a means to an end. And figuring out what that end is, is important.
Over time, I’ve noticed a few common reasons why people work and they’re not always obvious.
Purpose
For a select few, work is a means to achieve a higher purpose.
Sal Khan at Khan Academy, for example, works to provide free world-class education for anyone, anywhere on the planet. That’s an example of a purpose that can lead people to create companies, non-profits or even revolutions. But there are other flavors of this. E.g., some senior leaders find purpose in mentoring and some individuals find purpose in helping their customers solve real problems.
Money
Most work for money. But that’s not an endgoal. Money, too, is just a means.
There are those less fortunate who need the money to just survive. Food, clothes and roof over the head. That’s all that matters to them. And whatever work they can do to survive is precious.
For some others, the money helps them thrive. They want to live a comfortable life. They want to travel to far away places. They want to experience luxury. Some of them even want to leave a legacy. The goal of working for them is to do something meaningful, or just enjoyable, with the money they earn.
There is, of course, a wide spectrum of money-related reasons between survive and thrive; and most people’s reasons fall somewhere between.
Chip on the shoulder
For many others, work is a way to “prove themselves”. They have a chip on their shoulder. They need the world to see them as a winner. They thrive on that external validation.
There is nothing wrong with that as long as you know that’s what’s driving you. And when this ego-driven fuel runs out, you may need to evolve and find a new source of motivation that’s more sustainable.
Societal expectations
But not everyone’s chasing something. Some are just following the path laid out for them. You work because that’s what’s expected of you. You grow up, get a job and climb the corporate ladder. You get married, have kids, buy a house, travel the world; all while working. What else is there to do? Life happens along with work, but work remains a constant. And nothing wrong with this either, as long as the “life” part of work-life balance is on equal footing.
Growth and Connection
Work can also provide a sense of community and make you happy if you are surrounded by people who you like and admire. Work can also push you to get uncomfortable and grow personally. A lot of my personal growth came from striving to do better at work.
There are also some unfortunate reasons why people work. For example, they don’t have an identity outside of work, or they crave the dopamine hit when they hit that deadline. Work can create an illusion of impact or help you get over your fear of irrelevance.
Finally, people’s reasons may evolve over time, or blend. A person may start with a chip on their shoulder but once achieving what they set out to do, they can pivot to growth and connection.
Navigating the question
The question of why we work needs some deep self-reflection. My advice: don’t trust your gut right away. Human mind is good at making up elaborate stories to fool itself and pump up its ego. People often wrap ambition in language of “impact” or “growth” when they’re really chasing prestige or fear. Money can be an easy scapegoat even though you may already be financially independent and just don’t want to admit it to yourself.
My struggle
I never thought about why I was working. It was only when I hit 40 in the midst of COVID that I started wondering whether life was just on autopilot. I came to the realization that I was working because that’s what I was “supposed to do”. I had not found any larger purpose. Money was important, but wasn’t the reason I worked. I’ll confess I had my share of ego issues at work, but that wasn’t what drove me. And for a while I fooled myself thinking that I was in there for personal growth, but evidence of growth was hard to find.
Having gained that clarity I asked why would I want to work going forward? What will be the role of work in my life? Money still mattered but I found that I enjoyed work more when I was surrounded by people I loved working with and it was helping me grow personally. And when that changed, I knew it was time for work to change as well.
So what?
My humble request to everyone reading this: think about your own reasons for work. I gave some examples of “reasons” in this post, but it’s obviously not a comprehensive list. Observe yourself at work, see what gives you energy and what drains it. Reflect a bit. Collect evidence, and find what drives you. And notice if you are really being true to yourself.
Once you have an answer (or a list of answers), use it to plan the next step in your career. Career is a marathon, not a sprint, and it can be a much more fulfilling journey if your why is clear!