Introduction

Motivation probably comes in as many forms as the applications it can be used for. But as abundant as these sources are, many people still have trouble finding it. When there is work to be done, the only real motivation that most people find comes in the form of necessity. The only reason to work is because it needs to be done. Unfortunately, working for the sake of working perfumes the air with that sense of mediocrity that often results in a job less than well done.

But not everyone is this lost. Like I said, there are myriad sources of motivation if one looks hard enough. Work, in the occupational sense, is usually paired with the monetary motive. Other people work for less material means. Volunteer workers for example are obviously not working for the money. But are any of these sources better, stronger, more gratifying than the rest?

The following pages document an exploration into two types of work, paid and volunteer, and how motivation affects their respective environments. I interviewed a national bus service employee as well as a very dedicated individual working on an enormous yearly volunteer project at my former high school. The last page is a conclusion of sorts: a synthesis of the ideas I gathered during these interviews taking a stab at the concept of an ideal workplace and whether it is possible in this world.