This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
Money is often the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about work, but is it the only reason to be employed? According to human resources practitioner Fred Gituku, there are many other purposes that work can serve.
While earning a living and supporting dependants are essential, work can also provide opportunities to develop one's talent, make a positive contribution to others, and channel creative energy and aspirations.
Individuals have different relationships with money, and their reasons for working vary. Some people see the acquisition and accumulation of wealth as the essence of life, while others find contentment living on little.
So, what does money represent to you? If you were to win the lottery and have enough money to last a lifetime, would you do nothing or find ways to stay engaged and productive?
As poet Irwin Mercer once said, 'The more we saw, the more we wanted.' This desire for more can lead to a life of greed and dissatisfaction. It's essential to find meaning and purpose in our work beyond just the financial rewards.
As Gituku notes, 'To value work only for its output and ignore the experience is to deprive it of its full meaning.'
