Should Work Be Just About the Money?

In looking at whether I simply need an attitude adjustment, as opposed to escaping from Corporate America, I had to ask myself: Should I shift the motivation from career satisfaction to making it all about the money? If I were more appreciative of the monetary benefits, would I be less inclined to worry about whether I liked a job or not so long as I got paid well?

I've noticed that even though I have allotted at least six months worth of cash for expenses based on the same spending habits from my last income, I'm trying to spend less. It's been less than a week since I left my last job. Already I've shut off the air-conditioning, opted to do my own cleaning versus a maid service, and decided not to take a big vacation unless I use only my travel award points. I mentioned this because having to make "sacrifices" draws me back a little to wanting a secure corporate paycheck.

A big reason it's so hard to break away from Corporate America is because the steady income is like a drug. To a certain degree, one can ease the pain of boredom, drudgery, or being over-worked with retail therapy and lavish weekend trips. The problem is that like any drug addiction, one has to up the amount of use to feel the same high. When buying one's way to happiness spirals upward, there is no choice but to continue working and thus continue the spend-work cycle.

This concept of buying the good life so that one is obliged to keep working can admittedly be a good motivator for those who would otherwise be unproductive. But it can also be a trap for those who are unhappy in their profession by being indentured servants to their debts and bills. Is there any wonder that depression is wide spread amongst our society?

But back to my title question. Certainly, there are those who are living at poverty levels or have limited skills and any work should be just about the money. Also in this category include people with families to support; they have more to consider than selfish needs, as with yours truly. In conclusion, I think Maslow had it right: Where one is at on the hierarchy of needs, drives whether work should be just about the money.