This was actually an essay question we had for management earlier in the semester. I looked at the question from the point of view of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. His ‘Hierarchy’ is loosely correlated with the ideas of Tony Robbins.

I think it’s interesting that most people say that they work ‘to put bread on the table’ or to ‘keep a roof over our heads’, but there is little acknowledgment about the other functions work plays in people’s lives that you mentioned.

I also looked at the multiple negative functions work serves in people’s lives, and it led me to the obvious conclusion that work is a major paradox for most people.