Are You Driven by Money or Loyalty?

We were having a cup of tea and chatting about our lives when one of our friends mentioned that he kept looking for a new job and trying to get a better salary. I couldn’t help myself and questioned him about his current job status and its benefits. I expected him to be more appreciative for what he had. He came back with a sentence which I’d never heard before. He said,’ I work for money; if you want loyalty, hire a dog.’  

I was quite surprised to hear his feelings about his job. He is several years younger than I so, was that the reason he thought that way? Our conversation left me with an uncomfortable feeling. I told him that I didn’t agree with his comment, but I didn’t argue with him. Later on, I discussed with my husband to understand if there was any truth in his words. Was he right? Luckily, my husband had a similar point of view as mine.

 I know it is easy to judge younger generations. However, our friend didn’t say he didn’t feel appreciated, respected, or trusted; he just said he wanted to earn more money. Weren’t we working for money?  A while later, I asked the same question to myself. I must admit I work for money, but money alone isn’t enough to work for a company. 

When I think about my workplace, I like the feeling of being part of my team and company. First of all, I feel grateful that I have a job that I like, and I’m thankful that my employers trusted my capabilities and hired me. Second, I believe that there are so many other reasons that should make us want to work for a company. Here are a few things to consider: Do we keep learning and growing? Do we feel valued and respected? Do we feel that our work matters and contributes to our company’s success? I’m not saying money isn’t important; it is. However, it is not the most critical item in our job satisfaction, and it isn’t the reason that we stay in our jobs. Things may change, and we may change our job, but it shouldn’t be  just for a better salary.

So, what is the problem with the way our friend’s thinking, and what bothered me the most? He focused solely on money. And also, I feel like the new generation, and younger people give so much credit to their capabilities and talents. Before we ask for more money or a promotion, we all need to question what we have done so far, what we offer to our companies that no one else has. Do we always do our best to do our job better? Do we seek feedback to improve our work and ourselves? Do we feel that our work makes a difference and contribution to our company’s success? Before demanding loyalty, trust, respect, training, new opportunities, we need to offer the same traits to our employer. If not, why do we think that it is fair to ask for more money?

As Clayton M. Christensen notes, ‘Frederick Herzberg asserts that the powerful motivator in our lives isn’t money; it’s the opportunity to learn, grow in responsibilities, contribute to others, and be recognized for achievements.’ If we don’t have a purpose, we may always look for something new and feel empty.’

Again, there is nothing wrong with looking for a new job. But before that, we need to trust the company we work for and do our best where we are. We can show our contribution to our great personality and hard work. If we don’t feel we receive enough respect and support emotionally and financially, of course, we should look for a job.

Overall, if we spend most of our day at work, we should have a meaningful purpose for our life and spend our time, talent, and energy on it. Money and success will follow whatever we do, as long as we show a higher level of engagement, motivation, performance, and loyalty. Not only will we exceed our goals but also, we will make more money.