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« This Festivus, an Airing of My Top 5 Grievances About Work | Main | In This Economy, Should You Look for a Job If You Have One? »

December 30, 2008

What Motivates You at Work?

New Year’s resolutions come fast and furious this time of year, but in 2009, I’m keeping it simple. Sure, if I could lose weight and get in shape, it would be great, but I’m resolving to make my bed every day and put my purse in the same place when I come in the house. My motivations: to make my bedroom look better and avoid the mad search for my purse every time I leave the house.


As I started thinking about my resolutions and motivations, I began pondering motivation in general. What motivates me at work? Of course, money plays a role, but doing a good job is a motivating factor as well. And then there’s my family, a major reason I work in the first place. I want to do well for them too.


So as we enter a new year, I invite you to share your own motivations in the comments below. And if you’re not sure what your work-related motivations are, these articles can help you sort it out. Happy new year!

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Posted by Christine on December 30, 2008 at 02:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)

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EARN MONEY

Posted by: SURINDER PAL | Jan 6, 2009 11:01:46 AM

As the new year begins, the wife and I find ourselves in the state of Michigan for a fresh new start for and us and our dogs.
What motivates me? I knoe a lot of people are going to say, Money, but that has never been that big a deal with me. My motivation has always been to keep busy; to make each day challenging and different. Also I enjoy working with people that are happy with what they do. I had enough of shallow people, that are only interested in goofing off and the paycheck, thus doing only what they have to do withing a job setting.

Posted by: Shane | Jan 6, 2009 11:01:46 AM

What motivates me at work is not an easy question; I think it is a set of multiple factors. Money is important, but even if I could make more money somewhere else I think I would have to look at the other factors. Other factors include flexibility with time, organizational structure, and overall work environment.

My current employer only has one downside as far as I can tell and that is their organizational structure. They are currently running the company without a clear direction. This is the result of former managers buying out the former owners and trying to run the company as the previous owners did with a few changes every once in a while. They really need to make the company their own.

I enjoy where I currently work even though I could probably make more money elsewhere and one of the main reasons is a few of the little things that occur every now and then. For example, one of my bosses makes an effort to walk by my cubicle almost daily just to see how I'm doing, how my family is doing, and that small effort on his part makes a big difference to me. As long as my employer keeps the family feel that they currently have and they improve their organizational structure, I don't think I'd have a reason to leave.

Posted by: Preston | Jan 6, 2009 11:01:47 AM

I would be lying if I didn't say money was the #1 reason work motivates me. But that would require just meeting the basics. My current employer allows me to try new things and expand my knowledge base while on the job. Most of this is done while I'm also completing the work I need to be doing, but some of it are additional implementations that aren't even on my plate. So I would have to say my #2 motivation is to continually learn (keep my mind busy) and to be challenged, even if I have to seek that challenge myself.

Posted by: Boyd | Jan 12, 2009 4:54:52 PM

I'd like to read those articles mentioned at the end of the opening post, but none of them working! Has anybody noticed? Can someone please fix them - thanks!

Posted by: Shef | Jan 14, 2009 5:27:14 PM

I wanted to post the updated links for the articles mentioned above:

What Motivates You? http://career-advice.monster.com/job-interview/Interview-Questions/Interview-Question-What-Motivates-You/article.aspx

Work Values Checklist http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/Career-Assessment/Work-Values-Check-List/article.aspx

Don't Just Tell Employers You’re Motivated -- Show Them http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/Getting-Started/Show-Employers-You-Are-Motivated/article.aspx

Take Time to Think About Work http://career-advice.monster.com/in-the-office/Workplace-Issues/Take-Time-to-Think-About-Work/article.aspx

Posted by: Christine | Jan 15, 2009 9:46:15 AM

I am inspired to go to a school and encourage and love a few more children. They all need a lettle loving and a push to do better. They aren't born lazy or hating. It takes time to teach hate, and such a lettle time to love. AND the latter makes such a difference in a child's actions in the future. Thank you.

Posted by: Shirley Keller | Jan 15, 2009 3:55:59 PM

Those are good articles.

I believe that we're motivated by what we value and also by what our innate strengths are. I just did a short blog on this with a few links to some online surveys to help you fine-tune these two things - http://visionadvancement.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/2-things-about-motivation/

Posted by: Paul Derham | Jan 26, 2009 4:26:11 PM

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