Business: It's Not Really About the Money 事业：真的与金钱无关

Business: It's Not Really About the Money

事业：真的与金钱无关

in Observations

 

Here’s a deceptively simple question: why do people work? On the face of it, the answer seems relatively straightforward:

一个老掉牙的问题：人们为什么要工作？面对这个问题，答案看起来相当直接：

 

The 3 Core Levels of Material Need

物质需求的3个核心级别

Level 1: Resources
Working for immediate needs like food & shelter; living paycheck to paycheck.

级别1：资源

为了当下的需求而工作，例如吃住；靠薪水生活。

 

Level 2: Security
Working to ensure safety; saving and investing for future needs.

级别2：安全

为了保证安全而工作；为今后之需存款和投资。

 

Level 3: Freedom
Working to ensure self-sufficiency and independent choice of action.

级别3：资源

为了保证行为的自由而工作。

 

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.

这三个级别与Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs或ERG Theory的前几个级别类似：工作是一种我们可以有效地、可靠地满足自身基本生存所需的方式。

 

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?

这种解释非常合理，但有趣的是：当人们拥有了他们想要的任何资源时，会发生什么情况？“级别4”会是一个什么样子？

 

Level 4: Primary Motivation

级别4：主要动力

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?

考虑一下Warren Buffett、Steve Jobs、Dick Cheney、Angeline Jolie这样的人。他们拥有足够的金钱，甚至不需要工作就能养活自己——他们可以放弃明天，考存款生活。由于某些原因，他们并没有这么做——他们仍然继续工作。这是为何？

 

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.

考虑完这个问题之后，我认为，达到工作“自由”阶段的人关于他们工作的目的做出一个选择（无论是显式还是隐式的）。该选择最终以人们所重视的为中心：权力、地位、快乐、创造、或品质。

 

#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).

#1：独裁者

独裁者的主要动力是权力和控制。常见的行为有不断地寻找影响或控制行为和生活。

 

#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.

#2：自恋狂

自恋狂的主要动力是关注、名望、地位。常见的行为有不断地寻找其他人的关注和尊敬，该行为可以确保他们受到越来越多的关注。

 

#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).

#3：享乐主义者

享乐主义者的主要动力是物质享受的乐趣。常见的行为有不断地购买豪宅、高档事物、豪华游。

 

#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.

#4：建筑师

建筑师的主要动力是创造事物或者重塑世界。常见的行为有建立一个世界“应该”看起来像什么的视觉，然后不断地追求项目，他们相信这将会使世界更加接近他们理想的样子。

 

#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).

#5：技工

技工的主要动力是工作的质量和享受。常见的行为有不断地练习并改进特定的技能或能力，并使用这些节能作为一种表达自我的方式。

 

Why is Primary Motivation Important?

为何主要动力是重要的？

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.

我的第一个假设：一旦你识别出你的主要动力，你将会发现更容易达到你的目标。这些主要的动力相当普遍，是基于很深层的心理需求。无论他们是什么，一旦直接接近动力的源头，将允许人们更快的实现他们实际的目标。换一种说法，如果你真正了解你想要的，你将会更容易获得你想要的。

 

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.

我的第二个假设是：并不是所有这些主要动机导致持续的满足感和成就感。如果你是一位独裁者，总有你无法控制的人。如果你是自恋狂，总有瞧不起你的人。如果你是享乐主义者，快乐水车说快感总是会消退的。如果你是一名建筑师，世界看起来有拒绝向你臣服的趋势。

 

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.

从世界上的“成功”人士看来，貌似技工的个人成就感和满足感持续时间最长。你最终无法控制世界或其他人，但是你可以控制你的决定来完善你的技艺并通过你的工作来表达你自己。

如果我们有选择确定我们主要动力的机会，技工精神提供了许多：尽管他可能最终导致了权利、地位、预约、改变世界的成就，但同时令我们从依赖于事物（权利、地位、预约、改变世界的成就）的自负中走了出来。这一点不太一样。

还有想法？在评论中说道吧。

 

Src: personalmba.com/business-not-really-about-money/