Who do you work for?

I will never forget this other Sunday morning when I went into the nearest supermarket in my area. I met a colleague with whom I worked when I was in government. He was with his daughter. She must have been around five years old.

From the blues, she looked at me and popped the question “who do you work for?” I hesitated for a moment. The girl had not asked “where” I worked but “who” I worked for.

It is a question that seems to have an easy answer, but it gets complicated really quick and it gets into some interesting personal finance territory. Koma munthu wamkulu ndinachita chibwibwi, udotolo onse balala (I struggled to find an answer—even my PhD could not help me find answers).

For most people, it is easy to answer this question at first glance—it is whoever your employer happens to be at the moment. You could easily say you work for the United Nations or University of Malawi or government. But that is not really who we work for. Almost everyone has to exchange some of their labour or some of their personal value for money. We make that exchange because we get something in return out of it. Among them is money. Money is the biggest thing that many of us work for. That money translates into a roof over our heads, food on the table and things we enjoy.

However, other people work for fulfilment. Some people are personally fulfilled by their work. Their jobs bring them personal joy and make their lives better. Writing is a huge creative outlet for me—most of the time, it leaves me feeling invigorated as a person. There are many others, though, that do not get this kind of fulfilment from what they do.

Others work for the prestige of their jobs. They like to be seen as prestigious by others and often that becomes a major factor in what they choose to do. Even when they get low pay checks, so long they work for that particular organisation, in that particular position, they are happy. They ask, “How will this job affect my image?”

There are countless reasons why we do the work we do. In the end though, all the reasons above have one thing in common: You. Never, ever lose sight of the fact that you are the one in control here. It is your choice. You work for yourself.

Looking at your current job through this lens brings some new angle into focus. What are the things you value most in your life? For me, I value my family followed by the desire to help/uplift others. Other issues—such as personal prestige—do not really mean that much in comparison to the other two reasons. So, I basically work to ensure happiness of my family.

What are the key things that are most important to you? Is your current career situation maximising those key things? If it is not, is it not a good reason to switch?

Try this exercise: Consider the three most important things in your life. Is it your family? Your prestige in the community? Having enough income so you can go for vacations? Then decide if staying in your current job is helping you to maximise on these. If not, it could be time you started looking for another job! Just don’t let your employer know yet!

Have a blessed week-end!