Why I Work

I am in sales and as such am part of the engine that keeps our company vibrant. Recently, because of the stress on our numbers, our CEO exclaimed that we, as salespeople, are in a elite group chosen by our company and we owe it to the company to make sure we meet our goals.

For some reason, this did not resonate with me. In reality sales people are in a symbiotic relationship with our employer. Our employer needs us to generate sales, and we need them because of their great resources. Because I am in a consulting business, our company makes no products. So the real strength of our company is our people, the tools available to us and our culture. I don’t work harder because I feel "lucky" to work for the company I am with. Actually it is a mutual relationship where I am lucky to work for a great company with great resources, and the company is lucky to have me because of my ability to grow revenues.

This led me to truly think about the reasons I work.

First there are the obvious reasons:

I love what I do. I work because it is exciting, fun and challenging

I work for my family. To provide the things that will make their lives better

I work for my extended family. I want to always be in a position to help when they have problems, illnesses etc

I work for the charities that I support. There are people and causes that only exist because of charitable giving. By giving, I am helping mankind

I work to keep our country and economy strong. When I am fiscally strong, I can then hire contractors to do repairs, hire people to provide other services, and purchase goods from retailers

When I am really tired and want to slow down, one area that keeps me pushing forward is the realization that our staff depends on me to grow my book of business. I have an obligation to the young mother in the mail room, the newly married young man in desktop publishing, the single mother at the switchboard, the account executive recently divorced. I have a strong obligation to help them grow in their jobs, help them get increases each year and have the opportunity for advancement. I also have an obligation to those future associates that want a chance in the marketplace.

Even though I love my clients and will do anything for them to retain their trust, those employees are first. The obligation I have to them is deep and important. If we have to eliminate positions because of poor growth, it is my fault. Not an easy thought, not a light obligation.