Intrinsic Motivation

Work, at its core, is an exchange. A transaction.

After decades in corporate environments, I’ve come to see this more clearly, something I wish I had understood early in my career.

We give our time, energy, and talent. In return, we’re compensated, we grow, we contribute, and there can be real fulfillment in that. There has been for me.

But where it gets complicated is when the lines start to blur.

I’ve had seasons where I gave more than I realized, long hours, missed opportunities in my personal life, constant “just one more thing.” Not out of pressure, but because I cared. Because I believed it would lead somewhere meaningful.

And sometimes it did. But not always in the ways I expected.

Early on in my career, one vital lesson came from a former CEO I deeply respect to this day. He said this to me on a Friday night while I was still in the office working late: “𝗡𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲.”

At the time, I heard it. Later, I understood it.

If you’re going above and beyond, sacrificing evenings, weekends, exercise, time with your family; do it with intention, not expectation.

Not because you believe it guarantees security, or a promotion, or long-term employment. But because you’ve consciously decided it’s worth it to you.

Because the reality is, organizations evolve and priorities shift. Sometimes, despite your contributions, your chapter there comes to an end.

And when it does, the transition is often more practical than personal. A conversation and 5 minutes to pack your office and be escorted out, or access shut off and an impersonal email.

Followed by a package that aligns with legal requirements in your state and does not even come close to rewarding or recognizing the full scope of what you gave along the way.

That’s not said with cynicism or bitterness, just clarity.

For me, the shift has been about ownership.

I still show up fully. I still care deeply.

But now I do it with eyes wide open.

Protecting my time. Valuing my energy. Staying connected to what matters most to me outside of work. Because when a decade of full commitment, of showing up, sacrificing, and passing on other opportunities, was ultimately valued at just 2.5 months of salary and insurance, that quote stopped being abstract… and became undeniable truth.

It is up to me to set clear boundaries and recognize the transactional nature of the agreement. Also on me to be intentional about what I give, grounded in the reality of what I will actually receive in return, and fully aware that the two are rarely equal.

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