What “drives” you?
I had a discussion recently that centered around academia, and incentives. Â The point I was attempting to make centered around the notion that we get as a result not what we “want” but what we “reward.” Â It’s a generally accepted concept that people behave based on their perception of the incentives. Â Some are positive incentives (annual bonus, the Christmas ham) and some are negative (loss of job, prison, rejection.) Â These are, of course, the extrinsic motivators.
There are intrinsic motivators–those things you do because you are just internally motivated to do them. Â Perhaps you enjoy a task (graphic design, podcasting), or you feel a “calling” to be doing something (the preacher on the sidewalk, the environmentalist chained to a tree.)
I am wondering–what motivates you? And specifically, what motivates you at work?
Do you live to work, or do you work to live?
This is a very interesting question. Depending on the task, there are various motivators. At work, I am motivated by regulation, by the people I work with, and by my love of my profession. Money is always a factor, but closeness to home and comfortable work environment will trump money to a degree. Currently, I work to live, but I have had times where I live to work. It’s very dynamic.
For non-work tasks, I am motivated either by fun or by a sense of calling. I officiate sports because it is a lot of fun! I work service projects through my church because I feel I am called to share my good will with others. I change my schedule around to watch my kids’ activities because I am motivated by a sense of caring and duty to my kids to be a significant part of their life. I have sat through some rather miserable events watching my kids, but continue to do it. Lately, though, as my kids have gone through High school, the events are not as miserable, so the fun motivator peaks it’s head through.