[Serious] Motivation

[Jenova]

I’m a business studies student. At the moment we are discussing motivation, it’s now a topic that I have developed a profound interest in and would like to study it further. I am curious to know what motivates you to carry out your job. Is it money, a sense of Achievement, Recognition or the job itself? Perhaps you may have another reason. So what is it that motivates you to do your job?

Thanks guys,



Jenova

[crptcblade]

If I don't pay the rent, the landlord will have my legs broke. Is that motivation enough for you? It is for me.

[Jenova]

If I don't pay the rent, the landlord will have my legs broke. Is that motivation enough for you? It is for me.

*rofl*

So you only have two motivators; assuming you were serious . So like most people, you inherently work for money? The only difference is that you couple your requirement for money with the knowledge of security: if you pay your rent then you won’t be physically harmed.

Thanks for the reply, crptcblade .

[crptcblade]

*rofl*

So you only have two motivators; assuming you were serious . So like most people, you inherently work for money? The only difference is that you couple your requirement for money with the knowledge of security: if you pay your rent then you won’t be physically harmed.

Thanks for the reply, crptcblade .

In a nutshell. If money was no object, I suppose I would feel no reason to "work". I think I would still continue programming as a hobby however, since I quite enjoy it.

[visualAd]

I rarely have motivation.

[Jenova]

So what motivates you to work then? Action requires reason; nobody does something for nothing .

[oceanebelle]

My motivation:

Love for the job itself (programming). If this first and only requirement is not fulfilled, then all other factors should be to my advantage like, work environment, pay, location, etc because I know that if these secondary requirements are not met, I'd only think about resigning.

For my first and current employer(Been with them for 4 years now) I've been assigned lots of functions; Developer, project lead, bridge engineer, project manager,etc.

But the only time I was happy with work was when I am involved in development. I won't mind staying up till 3 AM everyday c0ding without overtime pay(because sadly I don't have OT pay), or trying to coordinate 8 people to do several projects at the same time. During these time, my mind was constantly churning and chugging on ideas which after it translate into something tangible gives me such job satisfaction.

On the other end of the spectrum, I was stressed when I became bridge engineer(representative onsite) and coordinator(mediator for bosses and clients) and documentation jobs. These jobs did not require me to c0d or anything. Just creating 40 emails a day and making documents and receiving calls and returning calls meetings etc.
I felt my mind going idle as the days went by and on some days it would get me crazy thinking of all those dying neurons. Motivation was at such a record low that it made me realize that I was underpaid and overworked and needed to resign.
Had a talk with bosses that time and they gave me my request that is to be removed from current function and be assigned back to development projects (I don't want to go to pure management right away). So now, from a very easy no-brainer job, I am assigned to a fast paced critical project. Despite the challenge posed by development projects, at the end of the day, I always find things to be proud about. Like helping my members finish something, pushing my members to finish something, letting all the pieces fall into place. These things give me enough reason to remain in a company and be constantly motivated.

-- oops sorry babbling (taking a break since I'm quite tired from lack of sleep but suprisingly not stressed out or burnt out)


/sleep

[oceanebelle]

Current work conditions:

I have to put up 6 hours of work(from the normal 8 hours); but I work at least 12 hours (house and office)

Paid quite low, my current job description is Supervisor but sadly my pay is not that competitive. I even know of an instance where a junior engineer (about 3 steps below the corporate ladder from mine) had a higher pay than I am because of their very priced skills which I also have, but does not have the necessary certification to prove it. Despite this fact, my function will not get any OT pay for hours I rendered extra.

From what some of my colleagues tell me, my pay is just the basic pay with all possible OT paid already. (Fixed OT pay) Not really a higher pay. I could probably find a job which would pay me at least 2x more if I work at the country's capital with my experience.

Always on call. Have to work from my place in case I can't report to office.

Despite all that, I remain because I am committed.

[Shaggy Hiker]

If I had no need for money, I wouldn't be doing the exact work that I am doing...full time. Therefore, money is certainly a motivating factor, but it is not the only one. For one thing, I realize that even within my field I could make considerably more money (1.5 - 2x) by switching to a federal or private sector job away from the state, yet I don't do that. The factors that keep me here are probably primarily my work environment, the dedication of my co-workers, and an astonishingly flexible schedule. It is not inconceivable that I could arrange for a 10 week vacation, and have taken several four and five week vacations, which have usually not taken any vacation time but have been covered by flex time. Working long days in the winter is relatively easy, which frees me up for a long gap in the summer. Since I generally don't go hiking for less than a week at a time, and 10-30 days seems to be about normal, getting those long breaks is quite nice.

As for what I do, if I was independently wealthy, I would still be programming, I just wouldn't care if anything ever got completed. I'd be tinkering forever. If I suddenly became wealthy enough that I didn't need to work anymore right now, I'd probably quit my job, then volunteer back at my job at about half the current amount of time. So I guess you could conclude from that that I don't despise it.

[Fromethius]

Well I'm only 15 but I've made a lot of programming projects just for fun and no pay. What motivates me? Well, the finished product of course! Every minute I work on it is a minute closer to my ultimate goal. While working on something, I keep thinking about the finished product and how cool it is going to be =D

[mendhak]

So as you can see, the motivations here are pretty much the same for everyone. Almost everyone likes programming, and the money is an additional factor. Same applies to me, but I'll add one more thing. Being a programmer gives me an excuse to be myself - social ineptitude, introvertedness and a general loathing for interaction with others. I can simply explain any eccentricities and follies away by saying "Oh... I'm a programmer." It works.

[Shaggy Hiker]

So as you can see, the motivations here are pretty much the same for everyone. Almost everyone likes programming, and the money is an additional factor. Same applies to me, but I'll add one more thing. Being a programmer gives me an excuse to be myself - social ineptitude, introvertedness and a general loathing for interaction with others. I can simply explain any eccentricities and follies away by saying "Oh... I'm a programmer." It works.

I want to add this reason to my list, please. Except for the social ineptitude. Somebody once said I'd be the next Jim Jones, and ever since I have been nervous around Kool-aid and crowds.

[Foxer]

I work for money - it's my PRIMARY motivation. But since I have to do my 40 hours a week to eat, I'm going to be fussy about how I spend that 40 hours.

Once I'm working for a salary that meets or exceeds what I require to meet my desired standard of living, I look for positions that provide flexibility and a best fit with my family/social life. Some people live to work. I work to live. If salary doesn't meet expectation or work eats into my real life (excess hours, stress, illness, cranky attitudes) then I start looking for other places to spend my forty hours each week. My actual role and duties matter less to me as I get my satisfaction from my personal life.

[chemicalNova]

I motivate others with a swift foot up the arse.

chem

[Jenova]

That’s interesting. I had a feeling that the primary motivator would have been money . So am I right in saying that a lot of you enjoy what you are doing because you get a strong sense of enjoyment out of what you do? You are all - no doubt - very proficient at what you do best: Programming. So am I also right in saying that you all achieve a level of self-actualization in the sense that you can effectively utilize your skills in your day-to-day work activities?

[penagate]

I dislike coding, to be honest. I prefer the design stage, and I enjoy the satisfaction that comes from completing a project and seeing it in action.


This satisfaction lasts approximately until I am required to perform maintenance upon said project.

[mendhak]

That’s interesting. I had a feeling that the primary motivator would have been money . So am I right in saying that a lot of you enjoy what you are doing because you get a strong sense of enjoyment out of what you do? You are all - no doubt - very proficient at what you do best: Programming. So am I also right in saying that you all achieve a level of self-actualization in the sense that you can effectively utilize your skills in your day-to-day work activities?

You're studying Maslow's Hierarchy aren't you?

[Jenova]

You're studying Maslow's Hierarchy aren't you?

That's right, in addition to Herzberg, Taylor and Mayo. It's really interesting, have you studied it before?

[mendhak]

Yes, in school. Interesting generalizations. I didn't agree with it completely though, because he was trying too much to delineate the slabs on the triangle when in fact it's perfectly valid (and common) to actually be in two or even three areas at the same time.

[Jenova]

Yes, in school. Interesting generalizations. I didn't agree with it completely though, because he was trying too much to delineate the slabs on the triangle when in fact it's perfectly valid (and common) to actually be in two or even three areas at the same time.

Yes, that’s right. I agree with you. I had this debate with the lecturer as he told us that it was a general rule that a level can not be met unless the preceding level had been satisfied first. In my opinion, in most cases the first level – physiological needs – does need to be satisfied first before other levels can be satisfied, we all naturally work for money for functional prerequisites required for our physiological needs, once this factor has been satisfied, the next factor is different for every human being, for example, some individuals are motivated by self-actualization (Yourself and other members of the forum). I work for social needs (otherwise referred to as Love and / or belonging needs) because I enjoy working and socialising with other people.

[wossname]

If I don't pay the rent, the landlord will have my legs broke. Is that motivation enough for you? It is for me.

Look on the bright side, you always have 2 months in hand.

[Jenova]

I was hoping that you’d make a contribution to this thread, wossname. I thought you would have answered my question with some witty response .

[wossname]

I'd need a hell of a lot of motivating to become a business studies student.

Anyway I'm motivated by a hunger for knowledge and striving to create code that is as close to perfect as I can get it.

I can't be bothered talking any more about motivation.

[penagate]

I am motivated by beer.

[oceanebelle]

I dislike coding, to be honest. I prefer the design stage, and I enjoy the satisfaction that comes from completing a project and seeing it in action.


This satisfaction lasts approximately until I am required to perform maintenance upon said project.

For me the satisfaction ends when I am required to do all the necessary documentation for ISO, CMMI... Those are really lots. *sigh*

[Shaggy Hiker]

That’s interesting. I had a feeling that the primary motivator would have been money .

Except that the programming came first in lots of our cases. Finding a job that paid us for it came later.

So am I right in saying that a lot of you enjoy what you are doing because you get a strong sense of enjoyment out of what you do?

Actually, I get a strong sense of employment out of what I do. My hobby prorams are more interesting/varied/original than the stuff I do for work.

You are all - no doubt - very proficient at what you do best: Programming. So am I also right in saying that you all achieve a level of self-actualization in the sense that you can effectively utilize your skills in your day-to-day work activities?

Gahd! I remember that stuff. That was a loooooong time back.

[schoolbusdriver]

So what is it that motivates you to do your job?

Nothing. I'm running on inertia.

I am motivated by beer.

Same here.

[chemicalNova]

Sucks to be caught out quoting other peoples material!

chem