What motivates us at work: 6 professionals share why they love their job

Published Updated 2 Min Read

Man standing outside in business suit, wearing glasses, smiling, arms crossed
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At a time when stress, exhaustion and burnout are at all-time highs in the workforce, it helps to reflect on the good parts of a job — the things that make it worthwhile. 

When people enjoy what they do, everything from productivity to career longevity to their personal mental health improves. In 2023, 65% of employees were happy with their job, and 20% of them were passionate about what they did for a living, according to a survey from career platform Zippia. Respondents cited things like salary, meaning, respect and workplace culture among their reasons for being satisfied with their careers. When people are lucky, they have multiple reasons for being happy in their roles.  

“Photography has always been a passion of mine since I was a teenager — I was actually a yearbook photographer in high school. I just love making people feel great and confident in their looks and selves. This passion has only intensified over the years and has allowed me to develop it into a lifelong career. What keeps me happy is knowing that I help my clients look and feel their best. Seeing my clients’ excitement and confidence boost after a photo session is incredibly rewarding for me. Clients consistently share how my images help improve their self-esteem, which is an incredible motivator and driving force.”

“The thing that really gets me going about my job is the thrill of the climb. We don’t work with established giants. Instead, we partner with startups and small businesses — these are the scrappy underdogs with big dreams and even bigger challenges.

Lee Hafner
Editor

Lee joined the EBN team in 2022, and covers areas including caregiving, employee health and wellness, healthcare innovation, and company culture. She created EBN's popular Benefits in Action and … Read full bio


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