I once worked with a woman who frequently reminded us (poor, working saps that we were) that she didn’t “need” to work. Her lack of need was supported by her husband’s mammoth paychecks. While her assertion was a slap in the face to the hardworking rest of us who worked, not only for financial reward, but for career development and personal gratification. The implication was, of course, that we must only be there for the money.

Over time, I came to learn that her need to work was certainly present, only different. While she didn’t need the money to pay her bills, she needed it, as Seinfeld would say, to have “hand.” Employment, at least on a part-time basis gave her the ability to share in decisions with her husband, to make larger purchases without consulting him and to force him to take a more active role as a parent, something she believed he would not do if she were a stay-at-home mom.

Everyone who works has some need to do so. Even work has different definitions. Volunteers work. Parents work. Even retirees work, whether it be in their own gardens, basements or kitchens. Everyone needs some occupation to feel valued, appreciated and alive. The rewards vary and needs fluctuate through the years.

Examining my own need to work, I have discovered that financially my need exists to help kids get through college, fund a comfortable retirement, live a less than strapped life and one day, be able to fund the charities I want to support.

What drives your need to work?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 26th, 2006 at 8:25 pm and is filed under . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.