# Why do you go to work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 1, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757 "2015-08-01T21:14:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/21 "2015-08-02T00:10:21Z")
> [@ssgenius](#): > > That was the previous assumption that I had but it appears to be changing. > > The question that I have is > > If you don’t enjoy your work (in some form), why keep working in the same position that you dread going to work everyday. Because I dread starving in the gutter worse. ---
**Author:** ![starryspice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9e8a1a/32.png) [@starryspice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starryspice)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/22 "2015-08-02T00:31:29Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > There’s a bunch of woo out there about “finding yourself,” “finding your true passion,” “having an identity” blah blah blah through your job. It’s generally a bunch of nonsense in IMVHO. Nope, not for me. I currently have a job/career that I find deeply fulfilling, and it took me awhile (and yes, some soul-searching) to get here. To answer the OP, I think what I like about my job (editor at a science magazine) is producing, whether by writing or editing, something of value. Sure, I occasionally don’t like a side project I have to work on. Sometimes I do things (marketing, yech) that I do solely for revenue and not because I enjoy them. But by and large this is my dream job. It took me awhile to get here, and I’m so glad it worked out the way it did. If you’re not feeling fulfilled in your current job, my suggestion would be to examine what you do in your free time. If it’s something that could potentially bring in a paycheck, then consider options for pursuing that as a real career option. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/23 "2015-08-02T00:34:34Z")
I semi-retired around 20 years ago and found out after about 3 weeks just how low my boredom threshold was. So since then I’ve worked a couple semi-part-time and part time jobs. From doing very professional things at almost no pay to doing manual labor at almost no pay. Its basically to keep active, keep attentive, and give us some extra money that isn’t in the budget for entirely childish things like going to 15 different amusement parks a year. I like to pick jobs that seem like they could be easy but have such a high turn-over rate that they clearly aren’t. My latest kick has been shipping centers (think a Fed-X/UPS type operation). Nice work out, short days, and work that’s more mentally challenging than I expected. If the job or the people get dull or annoying, I’ll walk. But until then (or if I take next summer off like I did this summer) I’ll probably hang around there. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/24 "2015-08-02T00:50:42Z")
> [@ssgenius](#): > > The question that I have is > > If you don’t enjoy your work (in some form), why keep working in the same position that you dread going to work everyday. Because finding a new job, applying, interviewing, being rejected is as shit an experience as the job you are already doing? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/25 "2015-08-02T00:57:42Z")
> [@starryspice](#): > > Nope, not for me. I currently have a job/career that I find deeply fulfilling, and it took me awhile (and yes, some soul-searching) to get here. To answer the OP, I think what I like about my job (editor at a science magazine) is producing, whether by writing or editing, something of value. Sure, I occasionally don’t like a side project I have to work on. Sometimes I do things (marketing, yech) that I do solely for revenue and not because I enjoy them. But by and large this is my dream job. It took me awhile to get here, and I’m so glad it worked out the way it did. > > If you’re not feeling fulfilled in your current job, my suggestion would be to examine what you do in your free time. If it’s something that could potentially bring in a paycheck, then consider options for pursuing that as a real career option. You are completely misunderstanding me. I am very content in my job; but I see that as a market byproduct and not what drives markets. Markets are driven by people with money who want things, period\*. My fulfillment as a worker is a relatively insignificant market force once you get beyond the most basic Maslow hierarchy type needs… That is my view of the working world; it does not negate the fact that people do find fulfillment in work; it just does not consider that to be a driving element. - I am oversimplifying a little here for dramatic effect. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/26 "2015-08-02T01:00:04Z")
> [@starryspice](#): > > If you’re not feeling fulfilled in your current job, my suggestion would be to examine what you do in your free time. If it’s something that could potentially bring in a paycheck, then consider options for pursuing that as a real career option. I’ve heard that before. My main free time pursuit is birding. However there are very very few people making a living by birding. It’s amazingly tough to make enough money doing it to live on. It seems to be a truism that the cooler the job the less of those jobs exists and/or they don’t pay enough to live comfortably. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/27 "2015-08-02T01:19:51Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > I’ve heard that before. My main free time pursuit is birding. However there are very very few people making a living by birding. It’s amazingly tough to make enough money doing it to live on. > > It seems to be a truism that the cooler the job the less of those jobs exists and/or they don’t pay enough to live comfortably. The problem with that is though, after a while _having_ to do something starts to suck the joy out of doing it. I was a professional dancer for years, love love loved it! Getting paid to do something you’d do for free is great. After 10 years it started to become a chore. Same thing with pet sitting. Getting paid to play with animals, great job. After about 15 years it got old and annoying. I don’t hate my job but if I didn’t have to work I wouldn’t. I can find plenty of other things to do. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/28 "2015-08-02T03:35:08Z")
In the past, I worked for the money, but also because it is a good field, I enjoy it, it has given me some industry-wide visibility, and because I’m a compulsive programmer and get paid a lot to get my fix. I get to define what things I work on, so that’s even better. Right now, since I’ve worked hard and long enough and saved my pennies, I can retire any time. If I retire right now, work would be screwed and I’d feel guilty. If I give them two months it is more there problem. Plus my financial advisor noted that if I start taking money out of my 401K next year I don’t have to pay the tax rate I’d pay if I took it out now. I’m in COBRA range of Medicare also. Anyhow, being a short-timer is very satisfying. And if I’m real lucky they’ll lay me off before the beginning of the year, with a parting gift, but I doubt I’ll be that lucky. ---
**Author:** ![polar\_bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@polar\_bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/polar_bear)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/29 "2015-08-02T09:29:16Z")
I like my job well enough and especially like the people I work with, which makes me come in earlier or stay long than needed occasion. That being said: if they stopped paying me, I’d never set a foot in that building again. ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/30 "2015-08-02T09:50:06Z")
> [@ssgenius](#): > > The shear number of people that only said that they were only working to support their family surprised me. > > I figured that there would be a significant number in that category it was a lot more than I would have anticipated. Interesting. By contrast my automatic reaction to your question was to say “food, clothing, shelter and long-term security for my wife and children”. That is fundamental. Ok, not everyone has a family but the vast majority do and taking care of each other goes back into primordial human society. ---
**Author:** ![blackpug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb9ed0/32.png) [@blackpug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blackpug)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/31 "2015-08-02T11:39:14Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvkJY2zhaL8) pug ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/32 "2015-08-02T13:14:56Z")
> [@ssgenius](#): > > 1. They want to help other people > 2. They are in debt and need to get out of debt for whatever reason > 3. Recent immigrant who will do anything to make money/escape poverty > 4. Working for their church/religion > 5. Making a name for themselves or a legacy > 6. To support their children or spouses or other family members > 7. To learn new things > 8. To support illicit habits (drugs, alcohol, etc) I don’t think this is a good list. 2, 3, 4, 5 & 8 simply don’t apply to me and I can do 1 and 7 without working, so #6 it is. I do get to do some 1 & 7 at work, but that’s not why I wake up in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/33 "2015-08-02T14:21:02Z")
> [@starryspice](#): > > If you’re not feeling fulfilled in your current job, my suggestion would be to examine what you do in your free time. If it’s something that could potentially bring in a paycheck, then consider options for pursuing that as a real career option. What I do in my free time is spend money. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/34 "2015-08-02T14:36:28Z")
As a professor, my job had three parts: teach (and give tests and mark them, the part I hated), sit on committees (to be avoided when possible), and do research (the part I loved). To clarify, I also enjoyed teaching. Since I retired getting on to 16 years ago, I have continued to do research, although I get no pay for that. I also give an occasional lecture (also unpaid). At first, I worked to get paid and eat. Most people do. Now I just enjoy it. My son retired from Microsoft about 15 years ago with enough to live on for the rest of his life from cashing his options. He helped raise his kids for about four years (from his earliest years he enjoyed interacting with smaller children), but got bored and went back to Microsoft where he seems to enjoy his job. And of course, he also enjoys the pay even though it is only for luxuries. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/35 "2015-08-02T15:31:14Z")
I work because I like having a place to live. If you’ll let me rant for a second. For work we had to do a customer service exercise where we discussed things customers expect. One of them was that they want to be helped by someone who wants to be at work. I find that idiotic. I don’t care if someone _wants_ to take my order at a restaurant. All I care is that they do, I give them my money, and they give me my food. I don’t feel the need to believe that they’re dying to bring me a root beer. All I want is competence. I don’t care about motivation. ---
**Author:** ![ssgenius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@ssgenius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ssgenius)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/36 "2015-08-02T18:28:11Z")
Great points everybody. I suppose my initial post should have been why do you continue to work in your present position if it causes you nothing but grief. FYI: I was just out for lunch today at a local Mexican restaurant and I was watching the workers there. From what I could see and tell, the majority of them were only there for the paycheque. Amount the group that I having lunch with, the majority of them were concerned about the upcoming school year for whatever reason. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![ssgenius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@ssgenius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ssgenius)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/37 "2015-08-02T18:32:41Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > What I do in my free time is spend money. :dubious: That is exactly what I do in my free time as well. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/38 "2015-08-02T18:48:04Z")
Because we (my husband and I) have not yet saved enough money to support ourselves (us and two minor children) off our own wealth. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/39 "2015-08-02T18:50:18Z")
> [@ssgenius](#): > > Great points everybody. > > I suppose my initial post should have been why do you continue to work in your present position if it causes you nothing but grief. > > FYI: I was just out for lunch today at a local Mexican restaurant and I was watching the workers there. From what I could see and tell, the majority of them were only there for the paycheque. Amount the group that I having lunch with, the majority of them were concerned about the upcoming school year for whatever reason. > > Thanks Oh, I didn’t continue to work in my present position when it caused me grief. I left my last two jobs because they were causing me grief in excess of the paycheck. One of the nice things about saving for early retirement is that you can afford to say “screw this” and look for another job. Pushes off retirement, but sometimes its worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757/40 "2015-08-02T20:41:17Z")
I work to pay the rent. I don’t plan to do that forever, of course. Someday, maybe someday soon, I’ll work to pay the _mortgage_. Then I’ll die. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-go-to-work/726757.md?page=3)