Let’s dig into this question just a little.
Sure, a primary motivation for your work is to make money so you can live, and support those you love. But I’ve run into a lot of people who feel that they’re selling their soul just for the purpose of maintaining a particular lifestyle.
There’s a LOT cheaper ways to live than how you and I do. How do I know this? Because you’re lucky enough to be a part of the privileged population who can actually receive email newsletters.
I worked with a gentleman some years ago who would work hard on every project. At the end, he would take three months off and just disappear. I asked him about this once, and found out that he was spending that time teaching children in Mexico. His salary as an engineer was quite enough that he could take months of unpaid leave to do something he was passionate about.
I was never that courageous, but it sure causes me to think about my own priorities.
I would like to think that part of the reason we work is to be doing something which has value. Personally, I believe that humans are designed to do work. I don’t think I’d want to be one of those super-rich people who never has to do anything of value.
OK, I’d like to take a vacation as that person, just for the experience. But not to have that be my life.
I believe that there’s honor in good work. It doesn’t matter what role you play, or even if you get paid. If you’re helping us to have a better society, if you’re developing as a person, and if you’re helping others … That’s goodness.
A great question to ask yourself: If you didn’t have to worry about money anymore, what work would you do? OK, you’d take the world tour and play for a few months. But after you’ve found that unfulfilling, what would you do?