15 December 2012

What motivates YOU?

I have recently turned the corner on my 65th birthday and at the end of the coming year 2013 I plan to retire...if God grants me the license to do so. Like the countless multitude who have preceded me I am now thinking about how to spend the rest of my life. I came across this motivational video from RSA Animate that talks about something that I have always believed in and that none of my employers seemed to understand...that money is a necessary evil and beyond providing the basic necessities of life it ceases to be a great motivator for many intelligent people. There is something else that is much more important. I am sharing this video in the hope that there are others out there who share the same view that I do. In fact, I'm sure that there are. Please stand up and be counted.


8 comments:

Shannon said...

I was recently listening to Dan Ariely, a professor of psychology and economic behavior, who says the same thing. It's very interesting and shows that perhaps we are a little less monetarily motivated than we realize. Definitely not a bad thing!

Brenda Maas said...

Great post and I have to say I agree.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a great New Year.

Bob Mrotek said...

Thank you Shannon and Brenda. I know that you are motivated people. Have a nice and SAFE holiday season

Brenda Maas said...

Thank you Bob.

Marc Olson said...

Very, very interesting, and it certainly rings true. A sense of purpose is the most powerful motivator that exists for most well-adjusted people. And retirement is the opportunity to devote ourselves to whatever it is that makes us tick. It can be the exciting period of our lives, I think, if we just keep that in mind.

Bob Mrotek said...

You are so right, Mark. It is time to decide. Like you once said, "We don't have forever".

Shannon said...

Thanks Bob, Merry Christmas!

norm said...

A personal note on retirement as an incentive: I started in the steel mill in 1978 as a lad. The work was sporadic, many lay-offs where I would have to find other work. I spent time as an oilfield roustabout, I went to school, I worked as a carpenter, electrician, plumber, cement finisher, tile setter, all good jobs that paid well but the clock was always ticking on that steelworker pension. Every time the iron house called, I went back and was credited with my time from 78. What did the mill gain by granting me that down time when I was away? A man who they could plug into the steel making process that knew how to make steel. I retired at 52. Most men stay until 62-65 because the pay gets better as we moved up the ladder in the skill set of the factory. I left because we are only given so many days and I want some extras days where I can do as I please. A powerful incentive to stay with the good pension plan.

On incentive: I was the Wage and Equity man for the union for most of my time in the mill, incentive pay was better than half of our income. There was a tipping point where workers would work like slaves, take no breaks, eat at their machines-if I found a pee jug, I knew the job needed attention from the union. Men will work themselves to death if the carrot is juicy enough.

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I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. I have been living in Mexico since January 6th, 1999. I am continually studying to improve my knowledge of the Spanish language and Mexican history and culture. I am also a student of Mandarin Chinese.