What motivates people to work when they are set for life?

[alexie]

If you won the lottery today and the money you had would cover your entire life and needs. What motivation is there for you to work?

Bill Gates's son is set for his entire life, what motivates him to goto a office and work.

[Mayo]

There is no motivation to work... i mean "work" as using your mind to produce value and not automated chores that mediocre people (financially and mentally) usually do.. believe me if life was one big wine and dine type of life it would become really really boring... unless you are a frickadillish sub-70 IQ moron that populates the "creme de la creme".. even an brainless moron like Paris Hilton is "working"..

[Dharma]

It depends on the formula for work. I use this definition:
work = job - fun.

If those people who are all set in life are enjoying what they're doing they may never stop. Yeah, I look at Bill Gates or Sandy Weill and ask myself, why don't they stop? don't they have any other interests? They must enjoy it, see no other way to move through life, or are afraid of the perceived loss they will suffer when they are not "CEO" of company xyz.

[Sam988]

Originally Posted by alexie

If you won the lottery today and the money you had would cover your entire life and needs. What motivation is there for you to work?

Bill Gates's son is set for his entire life, what motivates him to goto a office and work.

Good question. People like Bill Gates enjoy it, as Dharma said.

If they stop working i think they will "break" in no time.

But some people can spend an entire life just enjoying it and wasting money.. those are people who were born with money already.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by alexie

What motivation is there for you to work?

I don't have to work but I do... and the reason that I do is because of the satisfaction that it gives me...

As you grow and evolve you get to see that in order to lead a happy and satisfying life... you need to have a purpose... something that you have to accomplish... without that you are just an empty shell...

So... work is not only good... it is essential...

.

[1000feet]

- wanting to do something besides usual "retirement" activities
- being interested in a field, and wanting to be involved in projects with more costs and more people than what they could do on their own
- wanting to help out friends or family with their business
- not knowing what else to do after working hard to get where they are
- fear that others will work harder and get richer, and they won't be #1
- seeing something that costs a little more than they can afford
- recognizing that their proven ability to make money is the best way to support a cause they believe in
- recognizing that their proven ability to get things done is the best way to support a cause they believe in
- wanting to prove they can do it themselves (if they didn't "earn" the money)
- fear of missing the excitement of being in the middle of things

[Vincentboucher]

I don't work, i'm playing. I need to work, I can't do nothing in my day, I have to change the world, I have no control over it. Absolutely no control.

[Akashic_Librarian]

Everything is work, whether we get paid for it or not is another matter. What would drive me to work would depend on the job I was being paid for. There is a dfifferent between being a desk-jockey and a Personal Devlopment speaker...

[hotwired]

I know someone who went from "on track" to suddenly having enough money to stop working but decided to keep working for a while and have a real plan. At first he said it was this peaceful feeling. Suddenly having enough cash to generate a middle class paycheck forever. He enjoyed that peace a while, and had thoughts about quitting work asap. His attitude was that it was sinful to work even one more day when he could pursue some of his "unaccomplished dreams". time went by. He had promised himself and famiy that he would give it one year before making any major decisions. He delved into spiritual matters, educating himself all he could. He suddenly had a realization which came from an old story about a spiritual student asking a spiritual master what enlightenment was like ... he said "before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water ... after enlightenment .... chop wood carry water..", - The meaning and lesson he got was that everything, everything, everything came from inside. Whether you were chopping wood, pumping gas or drinking margueritas in Captain Tony's, your happiness and bliss came from this moment inside you. So then, he still decided to leave work, but to do it slowly. He decided that the financial legacy he left for his daughter was much more important than quitting a job he really enjoyed, and is having lots of fun planning. He is wise and knows that the journey is the appetizer, main course and dessert and the "event" really is nothing more than the "patting of the stomach" afterward. So ... that's why HE works. And he also always wanted to be the guitar player for the rolling stones, so he's grinding his axe a little more these days!

[Love]

To give a gift that is uniquely yours.

[Jill]

If you're working just for money, then there's no reason to keep working if you won the lottery and are set for life.

But if you're working just for money, then how sad for you.

[Zukin]

Scott Adams (the creator of Dilbert) has an interesting blog post on what drives some people after they become financially successful:

The Meaning of Meaning

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Zukin

Scott Adams (the creator of Dilbert) has an interesting blog post on what drives some people after they become financially successful:

The Meaning of Meaning

Excellent blog post...

I especially liked the following passages...

Priority-wise, it simply makes sense to take care of yourself before you start searching for a higher meaning. You aren’t much good to anyone else if you’re unhealthy, a financial burden, or an emotional basket case. Fix yourself before you turn outward. It’s best for everyone.

Success was supposed to feel good and stay that way. But it tricked me. There was a huge hole in my soul. I sat in my office and sobbed.

Don’t worry if you aren’t ready to serve a higher purpose. Fix yourself first. We’ll wait for you. You’ll know you’re ready when serving the higher purpose seems easier than not.

I could be a reality check for some...

.

[Vincentboucher]

Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian

Everything is work, whether we get paid for it or not is another matter. What would drive me to work would depend on the job I was being paid for. There is a dfifferent between being a desk-jockey and a Personal Devlopment speaker...

No, there is no diffence between those jobs, the difference is you.

[Jenny]

Originally Posted by Zukin

Scott Adams (the creator of Dilbert) has an interesting blog post on what drives some people after they become financially successful:

The Meaning of Meaning

Thanks for posting that link, it is really nice.

[1000feet]

Originally Posted by Vincentboucher

No, there is no diffence between those jobs, the difference is you.

Not even the place where you do the jobs is different?