why you should never work just for money

Neither you or your boss can afford for you to work for a paycheck alone. Here’s why:

It takes willpower to do a job that you don’t like, something you’re only doing for a paycheck.

And if pop science has taught me anything, it’s that willpower is a finite resource. We use it throughout the day and by evening, it’s gone. And then we eat too much ice cream.

Passion, however, is not a limited resource. Unlike willpower, passion can be cultivated. It can be stirred up from nothing with a simple perspective shift. It can grow as proficiency grows.

If I am doing a job only for the money, then I am working from my limited reserve of willpower alone. But if more than money is on the table — impact on people I care about, fulfillment of a personal dream, or the creation of something beautiful — then I can draw from passion as well.

Drawing from passion will result in much more valuable, efficient and consistent work than drawing solely from willpower. That’s why it’s really hard to become great at something you only do for money.

Duh, Blake. We all wish we could be passionate about our jobs, but it’s not that simple. My job sucks, but I’ve gotta pay the bills.

True, there are definitely some jobs that will more readily activate your passion than others. But I believe that even in the difficult jobs, you can work for more than money.

How? Change your perspective.

Here are a couple ways:

• Where do you want your life to be in 3 years? Work backwards from that ideal and connect it to your current day’s work. (Hint: the first step towards growth is kicking butt at what’s already in front of you)
• Where does your boss want to be in 3 years? What are the desires of your customers?Get interested in who you’re serving. Because your work today can affect their desires in a positive way — and that’s awesome. If you can’t get passionate about your tasks, get passionate about your people.