Are you motivated by power and wealth?

[ThelmaLou]

@Machine_Elf

In all of those cases, the wealth is a means to an end, a resource to achieve other goals. That’s different from what ThelmaLou was asking about, i.e. the accumulation of massive wealth as an end in itself.

From my OP:

Presumably, many of our politicians are motivated by the elusive drivers of wealth and power. Are you like that? Do you long to have millions/billions of dollars in the bank and loyal minions who live only to take orders from you? Do you love and feel you deserve the adulation of adoring crowds?..

Why does someone run for office? Yeah, some are into public service–I still believe that. But it is widely assumed that politicians seek “money and power,” whatever that means. That was the basis of my original question, however, I’m only clarifying my original thought, not seeking to derail this interesting discussion. Carry on.

[Misnomer]

@HoneyBadgerDC

I enjoyed your post and it made me realize something I had never actually pin pointed before. My best successes were always with teams I had to throw together rather quickly on large odd ball jobs I had a poor understanding of. If for some reason I had to continue working with that same team it would usually start to break down and lack the energy it had when freshly assembled. I often had a good laugh at myself when clients would call fully confident I could get the job done knowing full well I would be flying on a wing and a prayer. It always got done on time and my clients were always happy and I was always surprised.

Thank you! And yes, now that you mention it, whenever a proposal gets multiple extensions and drags on for a significant amount of time you can tell that often the team starts wearing on each other. It’s usually a relief to start a new effort. Whenever people say that I could always segue to project management if I wanted to, I point out that – although there are many similarities – managing a long-term team requires different skills than managing short-term teams.

[Nava]

@Filbert

I have no interest in having power over others, but I do dislike others having power over me.

Or, paraphrasing from memory, “I don’t need to be in charge, but I refuse to take orders from idiots.”

A couple of times people have been surprised that I’m an efficient manager, since I don’t bother entering peeing contests. I actually like being in charge, so long as I can play “my way”; in fact, my ideal work situation is as a team of one :p: give me the goals, let me know where the edges of “my” territory are, and let me go. With a team of engineers and scientists? I’m fine, better at it than most. Non-technical sales? I’d be bored out of my skull half the time and wanting to murder most of my subordinates during another 25%… Anybody in the team who’s into peeing contests, backstabbing, or general anti-productive, anti-morale shit? Can I fire his ass? Can I, can I, can I?

[gigi]

Generally, no. I collect money only out of fear of insecurity, and I give away as much as I can but I do put money away for me first. I don’t want power because I don’t want the responsibility. I want to do a good job following guidelines set out for me.

[DorkVader]

I’ve been the peon, the team leader, the manager and the owner at various times in my life. I like the money and the responsibility, the respect, and being catered to and being able to give away money/time/resources freely and not having to worry about being able to actually afford to. To my ears this sounds trite, but it’s still true, its the paperwork and the thousand tiny administrative details that take me away from doing the main part of the job, that make it suck, not being responsible for others work success and failures.

A manager, a planner, a great dreamer and achiever I may be, but administrator I am not.