Why do people work?  This is a question that has been pondered by mankind since the beginning of time, or maybe since the dawn of civilization.   The reasons can be boiled down to roughly three categories that spell out the acronym MAP.

Money.  This is the main reason people work.  More accurately, this is the reason people have to work.  People have to pay the bills.  People need a roof over their head.  Some people make a ton of money doing what they want to do (professional athlete, rock star, etc.), but for most people they make reasonable money for doing something they don’t mind doing.  Some people make a ton of money doing a job they hate, and some people make very little money doing a job they love.  Either way, you have to find the right balance.  After the basic needs, it’s all just stuff.  And you can’t take it with you. It’s been said that after a certain level of income, say around $75,000, there is very little incremental happiness to be gained by earning more.  Sure, you can buy more stuff, but so what.  Have you ever bought something you really wanted, like a car or a new house, and then after a couple months you revert back to the previous level of happiness?  Sure you have.  It happens on all levels.  Even if you buy a yacht or a new Gulfstream, eventually it’s just another thing to manage.  

Activity.  People need something to do.  Sitting on a beach the rest of your life sounds great if you are stuck in a cubicle in the middle of Manhattan, but you cannot do that all day, every day.  Boredom sets in.  Vacations are a break from work, but they are enjoyable because you are doing something different. If you’ve been to a dozen beach resorts, you begin to realize that they all look the same.  If you’ve saved up for ten years to go to Hawaii, then sitting on the beach is a great reward.  If you are a billionaire, then even the five star resort seems mundane.  Hobbies are nice activities, and generally the definition of what you prefer to do if you are not working.  Some lucky people can marry their hobby with their job.  That’s a good situation, but in most cases you won’t make great money.  We can lump social interaction into this category also.  Being around people is a basic human need.  Sure there are extreme introverts, but they are the exception.  People are social beings.  We need conversation.  We enjoy knowing others like to see us.  So working to stay active and see people are just basic human needs.     

The P’s.  Purpose.  Passion.  Prestige. Power. These are all lumped together.  Have you ever met someone you know has enough money to never work again, yet they still work 40+ hours a week? You might ask yourself why do they do that?  You say to yourself, “If that were me, I’d never work that hard.”  Well, it’s hard to stop working if you’ve spent a career trying to get to a certain level and along the way have gained power and prestige.  Look at 5-term US Senators, or long-term CEOs.  Many are in their 70s and still working.  They don’t need the money, but they really like the power and prestige associated with their positions.  Some people are very passionate about their work.  Again, they are the lucky ones.  Artists, entrepreneurs, architects, or other professions have very passionate people in their ranks.  Maybe they feel that they serve a higher purpose, like a priest or a doctor.  They are helping people and that is good for everyone.  

So there you have it.  Just a rambling of why people work.  Once you realize your reason, you might confirm that you are doing what you are doing for the right reasons.  Or maybe not.  If so, take a step back and re-evaluate.  Have you been doing the same thing  every day for 20 years?  Same thing, different day?  That’s not fulfilling.  You are not growing.  You are dying on the vine.  If you need the money, then you might do it until you can afford to do what you really want to do.  That’s OK.  You have to pay the mortgage. You have to pay your kid’s tuition.  Everyone’s circumstances are unique.  But re-evaluate your own circumstances at least once a year.  Life is short and the clock is ticking.