Hi, everybody, I’m Mike Staver. This is Mondays with Mike, a weekly video series where I answer questions from people just like you. This question is pretty straightforward.
“There is much talk about work being more than money, that we should have purpose or enjoyment. Are there times when work really is only about money, and purpose and fulfillment come from somewhere else?”
Absolutely. 100%. I think it’s better to find purpose in your work. I think it’s better to have your values managed. I think it’s better to do that, but I think there are times when people work to fuel their purpose or passion. They go to work– I’ve got a guy I’ve known for years. He’s outstanding at what he does. He does not get passion or fulfillment. He doesn’t dislike his work, but he likes to fish and he likes to hunt and he likes to do all those kinds of things, so when the whistle blows on Friday, guy’s in his truck doing what he loves to do with his kids or his grandkids and that kind of thing. That’s what he loves to do.
Ask him about his job, he goes, “Yes.” But his job provides the money to feed his purpose and passion. I’m totally good with it. I’ve got another client that is big into philanthropy, has a foundation. They work to do philanthropic work. It’s what they do. There’s no shame in it. I think it’s great. I’m blessed and fortunate to live out my purpose and my values at work, but not everybody does it.
By the way, it’s a mistake that people in my business often make to say, “You have to find purpose in your work.” No, not necessarily. If somebody right now said, “I’ll give you a million bucks to go dig a ditch.” I’d go dig the ditch for the million bucks. I wouldn’t find purpose in digging the ditch. I can find something to do with that million bucks. You know what I’m saying?
That’s it. Hope that was helpful.
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