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Money

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A brief review of my work history reminded me that the people who are more interested in recognition are usually making good money. Anyone who says they just want recognition is not worried about being able to put food on the table.

Some people may be consumed with collecting special certification, commendation, awards, etc., but those things will only make their resume look better and/or satisfy their ego. More than likely those individuals want a different job with a better situation than the one they are faced with each day.

Money is most important because, as the old saying goes, it "makes the world go 'round". It pays bills, buys houses, fuels the family vehicles, pays for the kids' educational needs, feeds the family, and makes vacations possible. If a member of the family has medical needs, money will take care of them; to get just about any kind of insurance, a person needs money. There is no end in sight for this list.

The only way recognition can do those things is by improving the aforementioned resume to the point where it catches the attention of an employer who will pay an individual a higher wage and, as a result, put them in a better situation than they find themselves in now.

It may not be true in every case in this country, but it's not hard to find a whole bunch of them where a person or family with more money finds themselves in much better condition. They don't have to worry every week about paying for the house or the car or the meals. Finding a situation where someone making less money is better off than his/her boss is much more difficult.

Those who get caught up in everyone's social status will find the people with more money standing much higher on the ladder, too. The individuals with more recognition might be close to the top, but they might just as easily be in the middle or even toward the bottom. Having more awards/honors doesn't guarantee anything.

There is also evidence to support the notion that money allows people to do more things legally and illegally. Recognition won't do that either; but that subject is not supposed to be included in this discussion.

The bottom line in regard to motivating employees is that they will work harder for the almighty dollar than an Employee of the Month award; and employers know it. When an individual finds a job offer online or in the newspaper, he/she will check to see how much it pays long before worrying about what recognition comes with it. There is no debating that.

Learn more about this author, Ryan Gray.
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