Money's limits

We are driven by many things.

Power, fame, money…

These external sources keep us motivated. To keep us working.

If we’re not motivated, then we won’t work effectively. Period.

As an ex-employee of a poorly managed company who’s experienced unmotivated work first-hand, I know what it feels like. It’s not fun.

But with motivation the rat race ends. Work becomes human. Alive. Fun.

In Business Organization this week, I learned about how a company can motivate its workers for maximum productivity.

And surprisingly enough, money becomes useless for motivation once it reaches a certain point.

In fact, more income will diminish productivity if the work is cognitive.

For the United States, $75,000 per year is the cut for most people. This also means that anything above that doesn’t necessarily amount to more profit for the company.

So what should employers do to hype up their workers?

Purpose.

They’ve got to know why they do what they do, and how it affects their lives and the lives of those around them.

In other words, workers have to know what’s in it for them, then what’s in it for something greater than them.

Purpose is the ultimate motivator. External pushes have limits — even money.

This applies to students too.

I don’t study in hopes to earn more money later.

I study marketing to build something cool for others in the future. To solve a problem or two.

And money will be an indicator of how well I do in solving the problem.

Make ends meet, of course. But don’t get used to having external rewards mitigating the true self-motivator.

Because money is a means, not an end.