Purpose, the Scarcest Resource
Michael Lewis writes books: The New New Thing, Liar’s Poker, Trail Fever, Moneyball (among others). A friend sent me he transcript of an interview with Mr. Lewis. I’m still chasing the source, but hare a couple of quotes while we wait:
[tease] (emphasis added)
As for happiness, it comes from thinking your job has a purpose. The scarcest resource in the world is purpose. People who have purpose, other than money or social position, tend to be much happier.
[tease] (emphasis added)
TLC: In all the industries you’ve surveyed, what’s the most unconventional way you’ve seen employees be motivated to succeed?
ML: Well, in the theater of Wall Street, it was money. The money was so huge that that’s what got them going. If you offer someone millions of dollars for doing something, they’ll find a way to drag themselves out of bed in the morning.
But the quirkiest and the one with the most human interest and captivating motivational technique was Silicon Valley, because there it was the way people were starting businesses. They were engaging people in an idea and making them feel like they were world changers.
[via a friend]