I’m about to delve into a thought-provoking topic, so bear with me. Lately, I’ve been doing a ton of reading and pondering about the delicate balance between work and life, and how it relates to our overall happiness. So, let’s dive into this question: Why are you still working? I’ll break it down into different groups of people and how they typically react to this question, and then I’ll share my newfound insight.
Category 1: Feeling the Need to Keep Working
I find myself in this group. I’m 44 years old, with one kid, a wife, and countless bills to pay. While I’m diligently saving for the future, I’m far from financially secure enough to retire. Some might suggest I could move to a farm and live off the land, but let’s be realistic here: I wouldn’t last two weeks.
The truth is, most people probably find themselves in this category when they ask why they’re still working. Personally, I consider myself fortunate because I genuinely enjoy my job. It’s mentally stimulating, engaging, and incredibly fulfilling.
For those of us in this group, my advice is to take a deep look inside and ensure that your work brings you fulfillment rather than just keeping you stuck behind a desk, feeling unfulfilled.
Category 2: The “Maybe I Should Keep Working” Crew
In this category, you’ll find folks and couples who could potentially retire if they wanted to. They might be in their early to mid-50s but still have three kids they want to support through college. Alternatively, they might have expensive hobbies or interests that make them think twice about retiring right now, either because they haven’t quite reached the financial security they desire or because they’re concerned about the risks involved.
We often crunch the numbers for individuals in this situation. We tell them that if they’re content with their current situation, working for another five to ten years could bring them substantial financial benefits in the long run.
Category 3: Choosing to Keep Working
Are you in a solid financial position but continue to work because you genuinely enjoy what you do? It’s a scenario I come across quite often. You have folks in their 60s who could easily retire but still put in 40, 50, or even 60 hours a week. This is especially common among our professional clients, like doctors or lawyers, as well as business owners.
For them, there’s something they’re gaining from their work that they either need or love (or at least they tell themselves that). It could be about power, money, personal fulfillment, or simply a sense of purpose.
In any case, this group doesn’t see an end in sight and might very well pass away while still working at their desks. If you’re reading this and nodding your head, you’re not alone.
Category 4: Fear of Retirement
We come across folks regularly who are hesitant to retire. In fact, they hire us to help them tackle this very challenge. These individuals are worried about no longer having a regular paycheck or figuring out how to make their life savings last throughout retirement.
They often fear scenarios like another significant drop in the markets or the possibility of someone they don’t approve of being elected. This group can come up with a multitude of reasons to delay retirement. The real question is: do any of these reasons truly hold water?
Category 5: Unsure About Their Work Motivation
Some individuals in this category, when asked why they’re still working, respond with uncertainty, saying things like, “I’m not sure,” or “What else would I do?” And in some cases, they admit, “I don’t really have any hobbies or passions, so I suppose work is my default.”
I come across people like this quite often, and it can be quite challenging to help them explore other options.
The First Principle: Going Back to Basics
Let’s dive into the concept of the first principle, which has its roots in Aristotle’s philosophy from over 2,000 years ago. It’s essentially the fundamental idea that serves as the starting point for understanding something. This principle is something that even top industry leaders like Elon Musk often use in their thinking. At its core, it involves breaking down a problem or idea to its very essence, rather than building upon existing knowledge.
Let me illustrate this with an example: Imagine you want to invent the ultimate dining table. One approach might be to start by examining the best tables currently available on the market, identify their flaws, and then brainstorm creative solutions. For instance, you might suggest adding a built-in ridge to prevent cups from spilling, thinking this would improve the table.
Now, consider how a first principle thinker would approach the same challenge. They would set aside the conventional idea of a table with four legs and a square or circular shape. Instead, they would ask, “What is the core purpose here? Is it simply a place for people to eat and put things on? Maybe we can entirely rethink the concept and have small floating orbs with no restrictions and very little tabletop.”
Let’s Simplify Things
Instead of always building upon what you already know or what others tell you, let’s try a different approach – breaking things down to their most basic components and then tackling the same question.
So, how does this connect to our central question – “What’s keeping you at your job?” – and the groups we mentioned before (those who prefer to continue working, those who have retirement fears, and those uncertain about their work motivation)? Let’s apply the same first principle concept and ask, “Why do you work in the first place?” It’s crucial to ask yourself this without being influenced by what you see on TV, read in the news, hear from your country club friends, or any preconceived notions.
Imagine I asked you to describe your perfect day, week, month, and year. What would they look like? Where does the idea of waking up at six in the morning and putting in eight, nine, or ten hours of work fit into that vision? Seriously, if you had no obligations and nothing you “had” to do, what would your days actually be like?
The Perfect Week
Let me give you an example to help you think about your ideal week. Imagine I just had a week off, and here’s how I’d spend it: I’d wake up around eight in the morning and get some exercise, maybe a game of tennis since I enjoy a little competition. Then, I’d take a leisurely walk with my wife and dogs and have a relaxed brunch or lunch. Afterward, I’d soak up some sunshine while doing some enjoyable reading and eagerly await my kids returning from school. I’d spend quality time with them until dinner when I’d meet up with friends and family. In my free time, I’d travel, volunteer, and pick up some new hobbies. So, what would your ideal week look like?
Now, here’s the interesting part: If work doesn’t fit into your ideal week, and you find yourself falling into one of the categories we discussed earlier after some serious soul-searching, then… WHY ARE YOU STILL WORKING? If work isn’t maximizing your happiness, and let’s face it, time is ticking away, do you really want to wake up five years from now and regret not retiring earlier?
Remember, you can’t reclaim lost time, no matter how hard you try. I’ve been there, believe me.
So, it’s in your hands, and yours alone, to reflect deeply and break it down to the fundamental principle of happiness. Once you do, I have just one question left: WHY ARE YOU STILL WORKING?
