Why do you work?

25 Jan Why do you work?

Have you ever thought about this question? I’ve been facilitating our “Embracing the world of work” workshop for many years and this question is always a powerful one for the new graduates we engage with.

We often think about the type of work we want to do.

But the question before that (why do you work) is a gorgeous exploratory question that helps you understand what drives you as a person.

Now you might think the answer is simple – money. But I encourage you to sit with it for a bit longer. Money might be your very first and almost knee-jerk reaction. Besides money, what else drives you to work?

Ask yourself the question and see what comes up for you. Year after year, I’m amazed at what young people tell us when we facilitate this exercise. The answers range from “To make a difference in my community”, to “Help those who must still come after me”, “Be a role model”, “Help my parents”, “To apply what I have learnt”, “To achieve my goals”, “To buy a house”, etc.

I also love this exercise because it challenges the horrible stereotype that young people are only driven by money. Young people have a strong sense of purpose and achievement, they want to have the right kind of impact and they definitely have a very strong sense of community.

I’m curious. Why do you work?

Share your responses with us. We’d love to hear from you.