Here’s a deceptively simple question: why do people work? On the face of it, the answer seems relatively straightforward:
The 3 Core Levels of Material Need
Level 1: Resources
Working for immediate needs like food & shelter; living paycheck to paycheck.
Level 2: Security
Working to ensure safety; saving and investing for future needs.
Level 3: Freedom
Working to ensure self-sufficiency and independent choice of action.
These three levels of work are similar to the first few levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs or ERG Theory: work is a way we can meet our basic existential needs effectively and reliably.
That’s a perfectly reasonable explanation, but here’s where things get interesting: what happens when people have enough resources to do whatever they want? What does “Level 4” look like?
Level 4: Primary Motivation
Consider individuals like Warren Buffett, Steve Jobs, Dick Cheney, and Angeline Jolie. Each of these individuals has enough money to ensure that they never need to work again – they could quit tomorrow and live off of their savings in perpetuity. For some reason, however, they don’t – they keep working. Why?
After considering this question, I think that people who have reached the “Freedom” stage of work make a choice (either explicitly or implicitly) about what they’re ultimately working for. The choice ultimately revolves around what that person values most: power, status, pleasure, creation, or quality.
#1: The Autocrat
The Autocrat’s primary motivation is power and control. Common behaviors include continually seeking influence or control over the lives and actions of other people. Examples: businesspeople turned politicians like Henry Paulson (US Secretary of the Treasury), Dick Cheney (US Vice-President), and Michael Bloomburg (mayor of New York City).
#2: The Narcissist
The Narcissist’s primary motivation is attention, status, and fame. Common behaviors include continually seeking the attention and esteem of other people, and acting in ways that will ensure they receive more and more attention. Examples: actors / celebrities like Lindsay Lohann, Brittany Spears, and Madonna.
#3: The Hedonist
The Hedonist’s primary motivation is pleasure and enjoyment of material goods. Common behaviors include the continual acquisition of luxurious homes, fine food, and exotic travel. Examples: Larry Elison (CEO of Oracle), Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Sheikh of Dubai), and Paul Allen (co-founder of Microsoft).
#4: The Architect
The Architect’s primary motivation is creating something new or reshaping the world. Common behaviors include the establishment of a vision of what the world “should” look like, then continually pursuing projects that they believe will bring the world closer to that ideal. Examples: Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple), Richard Dawkins (biologist and lecturer), Muhammad Yunus (father of micro-lending), and politicians like Ron Paul, Denis Kucinich, and Al Gore.
#5: The Craftsman
The Craftsman’s primary motivation is quality and enjoyment of the work. Common behaviors include the continual exercise and improvement of a set of specific skills or abilities and use of those skills as a means of self-expression. Examples: Warren Buffett (investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway), J.K. Rowling (author), and Stephen Spielberg (filmmaker).
Why is Primary Motivation Important?
Here’s my first hypothesis: once you identify your primary motivation, you’ll find it much easier to achieve your goals. These primary motivations appear to be relatively universal, and are based on very deep-seated psychological needs. Tapping into these sources of motivation directly allows people to accomplish their actual objectives more quickly, whatever they might be. Said another way, it’s easier to get what you really want if you identify what you really want.
My second hypothesis is that not all of these primary motivations lead to a lasting sense of personal satisfaction and fulfillment. If you’re an Autocrat, there will always be people you do not control. If you’re a Narcissist, there will always be people who look down on or ignore you. If you’re a Hedonist, the hedonic treadmill ensures that every pleasure eventually fades. If you’re an Architect, the world seems to have a tendency to stubbornly refuse to conform to your ideals.
When I look at the universe of “successful” people in the world, it appears that the Craftsman has the best shot at lasting personal satisfaction and fulfillment. You ultimately can’t control the world or other people, but you can control your dedication to perfecting your craft and expressing yourself through your work.
If we have a choice in determining our primary motivation, it seems that the Craftsman’s ethos has the most to offer: it may eventually lead to power, status, pleasure, and world-changing achievement, but it frees us from the perception that our self-worth depends on any of these things. That’s a remarkable combination.
Thoughts? Leave them in the comments.
{ 12 comments }
Is it possible to change your primary motivation? I am an architect, but your argument about becoming a craftsman is persuasive to me. Essentially, is this type of motivation ingrained or is it malleable to conform with what you need to do?
Morgan – I suspect that we may have biological / psychological / developmental leanings towards a motivation, but I think that ultimately it’s something you choose. I would have considered myself an Architect a few years ago, but over time my motivation has changed to Craftsmanship – I still have ideas about what would make the world a better place, but I care more about doing quality work that helps people. So, as far as I can choose, I choose to be a Craftsman.
I suspect that your primary motivation determines how you define success when dealing with goals and objectives. It could very well be that the best way to choose / alter your motivation is to consciously define success in a different way. This may be a good topic for another post – thanks for the ideas!
I suspect that there should be something more deeper level of motivation beyond the “craftsman” kind, because even a craftsman can get bored doing the same thing again. May be some altruistic intention – like to serve others in a better way.
I agree with Hari. Where does service fit into this model?
The article makes sense in theory but at the face of it, consider maslows.. parents in india might let go of their food clothing and shelter needs to give their kids education .. here the maslows theory goes for a toss …. people live in rented places but buy the best appliances for comfort.
While the theory is good, generalization becomes a bit difficult as mentioned by hari and the rest !?
Regards,
Anupam,
PRO,
http://www.ManagementParadise.com
Great points, everyone. To Hari & Bart’s point, I think service is more of an orientation that can fit any of these motivations – i.e. are you attempting to gain power, status, pleasure, creation/change, or quality for yourself (egoism), for someone else (altruism), or some combination of the two? It’s a fascinating question that points toward important questions of ethics – what is the “right” orientation, and what is the “right” motivation?
Take all of these archetypes with a grain of salt – they’re patterns that I’ve noticed and put a name to, not facts etched in stone. Thanks for your thoughts – keep the ideas coming!
Josh, another great post with some great comments from your other readers. I spent all last week in Palm Springs at the Global Institute for Leadership Development and while I was there had a chance to chat with Tom Peters about this very subject. It turns out he and I are in almost complete agreement that the major things that motivate workers today are: opportunity, appreciation, and meaning. In my work with hundreds of high potential employees at Fortune 500 companies around the country the words I most often hear now are: respect, passion, meaning, authenticity, and making a difference. Oh sure, they still want to get paid well, but they’re not so wrapped up in status and salary as folks used to be just a few years ago. I like the different archetypes that you have created, and as you said these are just your names for a pattern you’ve seen in the way people act and behave, but your main point of “it’s not about the money” is absolutely 100% on target. If you give people a really great working atmosphere, a superb culture, and pay them fairly — you can attract and retain superb employees. Give them a crappy culture and a lot of money, and only the greedy ones stay — give them a crappy culture and low pay, and only the ones who cannot find a job someplace else will stay. I think Lou Gerstner from IBM said it well “In my time at IBM I learned that culture wasn’t one of the things– it was the only thing.” Keep up the great work Josh, I love your website and always enjoy reading your blogs. Take it easy my friend — John Spence
I love this post and the comments that follow. I think the most difficult thing and most rewarding thing anyone can do for themselves is find their passion and understand their motivation. To be honest I am still struggling to narrow down my own passion. It is certainly an ethical question that is not questioned enough today. I may be biased as a former philosophy student, but I think everyone should study some basic ethical philosophy and consider their own beliefs. For a solid exposition on this topic check out Peter Singer’s “How Are We to Live?: Ethics in an Age of Self-Interest.” It’s not one of his top selling books, but he proposes altruism as a universal ethic and cites some very interesting case studies, including an NFL coach that won a Super Bowl and a wealthy New York family that moves to Africa to serve others.
First all, I read Personal MBA book and benefited a lot from the authors. Thank you for the good work.
This question has been wrestled with centuries & one of the best philosophers and clergies answered. I found the best answer comes from one of the greatest American philosopher/clergy on why do we do things and what’s the motivation behind Jonathan Edwards:
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1987/1494_Was_Jonathan_Edwards_a_Christian_Hedonist/
“it’s easier to get what you really want if you identify what you really want.” – brilliantly said!
Great article Josh. You’ve explained it in substantial detail, and what I take out is really that when we do something for the love of it, that’s when true success follows. If you’re just doing something for the money, it will always be the wrong reason.
I like your take on it!
After all, why settle for a fortune when you can change the world!
First, let me say I just discovered this website. I am absolutely loving it. What a brilliant concept, and business model. My hat is off to you.
That said, I think we can’t forget the thoughtless and/or incoherent motivation. Many people pick jobs, go to school, retire — all without really having a /coherent/ motivation. To them, their reasoning for working might simply be “because” or “everyone expects me to” or “what else would I do?”
This is one of the most blatant motives I see around me. I work with several people who could easily walk away from what they are doing, but simply … don’t. They don’t really fit into any real “mold”, and their response to the idea of quitting is usually a quizzical look.
I’d love to read your thoughts on the topic. Thanks once again for the stellar content,
Shaun Connell
None of the likes of Jesus, Sai Baba, Guru Nanak, etc? They too kept working despite of any selfish intention
where do u place them?
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