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Rich people keep working because they know they make a difference. They believe (almost without exception) that the company won't be able to function without th
by gizmo 17y ago
Rich people keep working because they know they make a difference. They believe (almost without exception) that the company won't be able to function without them; that the company depends on them (only very rarely the case).
When people ask "why do the rich keep working", the implied question is "why do the rich keep working when they don't HAVE to?". But that implies that work is punishment, a thing you have to do to enjoy the other things in life. This tends not to be the case for high level executives who travel the world, meet lots of people, command thousands of people, and so on. Knowing that you make a difference trumps almost everything -- because it gives your life meaning.
A side issue is that many people, if I had to guess at least 10% of the world's population, is obsessive by nature. They don't want a balanced life, they want to focus the bulk of their time on one thing, and one thing only. Most people who are this way realize this before they're adults. I'm pretty sure that most rich people are obsessive about their work, and I think they know that if they were to quit they would end up doing something else with equal vigor, but they would contribute less to society. To continue work, given these specific assumptions, is the rational thing to do.
- pbhj 17y agoSo you don't think it has anything to do with greed? Not even for some? Having more than those around you, "achieving higher status" if you prefer, appears to motivate a shedload of richer people. "But that implies that work is punishment, a thing you have to do to enjoy the other things in life." And you assume that if you work it has to be for remuneration. It's possible to work for free in very many beneficial ways. A lot of charities would welcome a highly skilled financier, say, or a world beating programmer who wanted to donate their time. One could also as CEO choose to take the same wage as the cleaner (minimum wage probably). "Rich people keep working because they know they make a difference." What, all of them? How about the banking leaders that just destroyed half the worlds major economies between them. They seem still to be "working" and receiving 8 figure bonuses in some cases. "Knowing that you make a difference trumps almost everything -- because it gives your life meaning." You sound like a motivational speaker. What difference precisely? Making people happier, more content, healthier, more fulfilled? Any westerner on greater than average pay in their country could choose to make even more of a difference and live comfortably whilst donating all their above-average income to others in need. If it's all about making a difference then why don't the rich choose to be less rich and make more difference. Your analysis doesn't add up IMO. Edit:typo.
- anigbrowl 17y agoYou raise reasonable questions. It's a sad fact that some people get very rich by exploiting the commons and depend on zero- or negative-sum strategies to increase their wealth.