What do you work for?

This is not a trick question, rather a philosophical one. Most intuitive responses would probably be about money. But I recall from a class of an Insead professor, Kevin Kaiser, on "managing for value" that he disagreed, and suggested that: you only show up at work for money, but work for something else. That is thought-provoking, but may be closer to the truth than it paradoxically sounds.

With all the financial commitments and all the bills to pay for the sustenance of living, how can one possibly be not working for money?

The fact that one needs to get paid to work does not necessarily mean that she works for the money. Except in the circumstances of having no choices, eg, for lack of qualifications or skills, or in an economic downturn with high unemployment (not to mention the economies with extreme poverty), people choose what they do and who they work for. No matter what they end up doing, chances are that they don't exactly think about the month's end pay during their day to day activities. When they get paid, they think about what to do with the money, other than the money itself. Beyond a paid occupation, some people also do voluntary work for charity or other non-profit organizations.

So what exactly do people work for? I believe the answer lies in a person's value system, consciously or otherwise, which is entirely personal and subjective.

But what exactly is value? It is not equal to money. Quoting Kevin again, for a definition which even a three-year-old kid can possibly understand, value is simply happiness - why it is entirely personal and subjective. So a sensible person will work for something which is supposed to enhance the perceived value of what she can get out of her job - be it satisfaction and recognition of some kinds, or a state of mind or position which enhances her career prospect in the long run, for example - knowing that, in any case (bar any unforeseeable circumstances), she gets paid by (just) putting in her days' work.

For those who lives entirely on commission, of course, he has to deliver the numbers instead of just show up for the money. Putting in a good day's work does not necessarily guarantee any income. But chances are that a successful sales person is also someone who really enjoys the selling process. In any case, even though money may be a perceived measurement of someone's success and status, it can't be his end state of happiness.