How to get the paycheck AND the fulfillment you want from your job without getting frustrated

During strategy calls with potential clients, I hear over and over: “It’s not about the money. I just want to be recognized and add more meaning to all the work I’m putting in.”

It usually doesn’t take long for them to realize that “it’s also about the money.” – Let me explain why:

1.       Money is part of recognition

Does it make you feel better to take home $15k/month or $10k/month for the same job and work? If both amounts are an option for your job, which makes you feel more recognized?

If you know that both amounts could apply, which of the two is more likely to lead to frustration or resentment in the future (like when you find out one of your peers is indeed taking home $15k/month)?

2.       Today’s compensation has an impact on tomorrow’s life

Most people want financial freedom. If you’re one of them, why would you neglect deliberations such as compensation being cumulative?

Salary increases often are percentages, especially when they come in the form of general annual increases. If what you negotiate now is higher, this increase will go up as well. So will all the benefits that are percentages of your salary, as well as the potential profits you can get from investments you make with the money earned.

And so on and so forth… You get the idea.

I suggest you open an Excel sheet and plug in your current salary number as well as one or two potential higher salaries, and you do the math with your benefits, bonus, pension fund or what else is part of your compensation package. Then compare what both your salary and other compensation elements would look like over the years with those higher numbers. You may be surprised!

3.       You can make a bigger impact with more money

If you earn $100k/year, depending on your location’s cost of living, whether you have family and are the bread winner, and your spending preferences, you could decide to donate a certain amount to a specific cause of your choosing.

Now just imagine what this donation could look like if your paycheck said $300k/year instead! You could even create your own project if you decided to separate the same proportional amount for that cause.

But apart from donating, because of item 1 of this article, you can also more easily inspire others to own their value and negotiate for a better salary as well.

And last but not least, because status is such a predominating factor when it comes to selecting an influencer to follow, your chances to become an influencer (in whichever setting you choose to be one) automatically increase as well.

These are just three reasons why yes, it’s ALSO about the money, and there are certainly more. I invite you to share YOUR reasons in the Comments.