Summary

The article explores the misconceptions about what truly brings happiness and fulfillment in our professional lives, emphasizing that common motivators like salary and job security do not necessarily lead to job satisfaction.

Abstract

The author reflects on an encounter with a former schoolmate who pursued her passion in film production but ended up unhappy in her career. This leads to a discussion based on Clayton M. Christensen's book "How Will You Measure Your Life" and Frederick Herzberg's theory, which differentiates between "Hygiene Factors" (such as income and job security) and "Motivation Factors" (like challenging work, personal growth, responsibility, and recognition). The article argues that while hygiene factors might prevent dissatisfaction, they do not contribute to genuine happiness at work. Instead, motivation factors are key to finding true fulfillment in one's career. The author also touches on the tendency to prioritize financial gain over personal satisfaction, often resulting in a cycle of lifestyle inflation that can trap individuals in unfulfilling jobs.

Opinions

The author suggests that following one's passion does not guarantee happiness in one's career.
Increasing income and job security (hygiene factors) are commonly believed to enhance job satisfaction, but research indicates they merely reduce dissatisfaction.
True job satisfaction comes from motivation factors such as challenging work, personal growth, a sense of responsibility, and recognition.
People often take jobs for the financial benefits, which can lead to a cycle of increased spending and dependence on a high income, making it difficult to pursue more fulfilling work.
The author emphasizes the importance of making career decisions based on motivation factors rather than hygiene factors for long-term happiness and fulfillment.
There is an acknowledgment that intuition can lead to career choices that lack fulfillment, and the author encourages readers to reflect deeply on their career decisions.

A Deep Dive Into What Truly Makes Us Happy & Successful

Decoding Happiness — Part 1: Work

Why is it so hard to figure out what makes us happy?

Yesterday, I braved the frenzy of Black Friday sales to pick up a few things for our Daughter.

Amidst the onslaught of bargain-crazed shoppers, I spotted a girl I went to school with that I hadn’t seen in 10 years.

The last time we spoke, she was returning to University to complete a Master’s degree in Film Production (her passion at the time).

I heard through the grapevine that she had been working in this arena since graduating.

As the conversation continued, she asked me about my work and if I enjoyed it. I adhered to my standard response, explaining that ‘It was fine’ and ‘It pays the bills’ (I’m reluctant to ever truly reveal my thoughts in passing conversation’).

I then posed the same question to her, assuming that she was ‘living the dream’.

‘I fucking hate it’ she responded.

It was unexpected; here was someone who had wholeheartedly followed her passion and was now entrenched in the very industry she had set her sights on.

And yet — she was miserable.

Before I could enquire further, the conversation came to an abrupt halt as we both had kids demanding our immediate attention.

But it prompted me to wonder:

What is it that we are convinced is going to make us happy in our jobs, that doesn’t?

And what is it that will actually make us happy and fulfilled?

What Won’t Make Us Happy

As it happens, I’ve been reading a book that covers this very topic.

‘How Will You Measure Your Life’ by Clayton M. Christensen.

Christensen is a Professor in the Harvard School of Business and this book covers both his personal experiences and scientific research.

For this particular topic, he draws on research by Fredrick Herzberg with his theory aptly known as, Herzberg’s Theory.

I won’t bore you with all the research but here are the basics.

There are two common factors of motivation:

Hygiene Factors
Motivation Factors

Hygiene factors are things like increased income, promotions, work conditions and job security.

We default to Hygiene factors when we think about increasing our job satisfaction.

‘If only I could just get another pay rise’.

What Herzberg’s research shows, is that improving hygiene factors will not help you love your job.

They’ll just ensure you don’t hate it as much.

So, despite our innate urge to chase higher-paying jobs, promotions and accolades, it doesn’t appear to translate to happiness.

What Will Make Us Happy?

So, if increasing your earning power or moving up the ranks doesn’t make you any happier, what does?

These are what are known as Motivation factors.

Challenging Work

Our default is often to choose the path of least resistance (shaped by our evolutionary drive to conserve energy).

Yet, true happiness lies in immersing ourselves in tasks that require our intellectual, creative, or physical skills.

This not only activates our minds but also instils a profound sense of purpose and accomplishment.

Personal Growth

Remaining static goes against our very nature as humans.

We crave growth and improvement, and as it turns out, this is confirmed by the research.

Embracing a mindset of ongoing development not only invigorates our work but also lays the foundation for a purpose-driven career.

Responsibility

Building on the premise of personal growth, we have a deep desire to feel that over time, our responsibility and autonomy are increasing.

Beyond the tasks assigned, the sense of responsibility and autonomy we accrue over time significantly contributes to our job satisfaction.

As we shoulder increasing responsibilities, we cultivate a deeper connection to our work and a heightened sense of ownership.

Recognition

Lastly, we want to feel that we are valued.

Feeling valued goes beyond mere words — it is the understanding that our efforts have a meaningful impact on the organization and its goals, and crucially, that this is being acknowledged.

Why Do We Take Jobs That Don’t Make Us Happy?

Well, it seems that it comes down to one thing.

Money.

We all have financial pressures — mortgages to pay for, kids to raise, cars to buy. And these things don’t come cheap.

We take jobs for the money and convince ourselves it’s ‘just for a couple of years’, then we’ll find something more meaningful.

In the interim, we suffer from what I call ‘Lifestyle Creep’ — Our expenses and lifestyle expand to fit our incomes.

We get trapped.

Reflecting on my encounter yesterday, I realise that her story (and mine) are all too common.

Unbeknownst to us, we can find ourselves in careers that don’t provide the fulfilment we need because we rely on our intuition when making decisions.

The next time you’re making a difficult career decision, take the time to reflect.

Are you making a decision based on a hygiene or motivation factor?

Do you think I’ve missed anything? If there’s anything in your job that gives you immense satisfaction, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

About the Author

My name is Dave 👋

This is the first article in a series where I try to decode happiness in the different domains of life.

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