Money is Not a Motivator

Nowadays, there are far too many people who believe that motivation can be increased by money. Bosses believe if they give a person a raise they will be a better worker. Other people believe that if they made more money their troubles would be over. Definitely, not the case.

Think about this: did you ever work at a job you really hated? I’m sure every person reading this would say "yes" to that question. Now, even though you hated the job, did you ever receive a raise on that job? I know I did, and I’m sure many of you did to. However, when you came to work the next day (the day after receiving the raise), did you now love the job or did you still hate it? I’m betting you still hated the job.

You see, money is not something that makes us love our jobs; it’s just something that might stop us, temporarily, from hating our jobs. Nobody ever wakes up in the morning and says, "I can’t wait to get to work today, because they pay me well." But, you might hear people say this, "I hate this job! I’d love to get out of here, but, they pay me well so I might as well stay." Wouldn’t you love to have someone like that working for you? They’re acting as if they’re doing you a favor by taking your money.

The problem is: money is not a motivator. Money is a vehicle. It is a vehicle that allows us to live the type of lifestyle we choose to live. So what do we really need to know? Of course, what type of lifestyle we want to live. In fact, if you can answer this question; how do I want my life to look? That will tell you how much money you need to make. Once you know that amount, you can formulate a plan to get it. Only if we know what we’re going to do with the money is there any motivation to get it.

When you have a clear idea of how your job and the money you earn can be a vehicle towards helping you acquire what you want, your attitude and performance on the job will improve because now you’re working for yourself and your ultimate goal.