Overcoming The “Candle Problem” And Rethinking Motivation

@Lalkin: Next to Lifehacker, I spend most of my free time on TED. Wonderful, inspiring, funny, jaw-dropping stuff. It's easy to get lost there for hours, but it's very worth it.

If you haven't checked them out, be sure to watch Ken Robinson, Malcom Gladwell, and Hans Rosling's talks. They are awe-inspiring:

[www.ted.com]

[www.ted.com]

[www.ted.com]

Does anyone know what the theory or system is called where a company allows its employees to use company time to check personal emails under the assumption that they will be more productive and more loyal to their employer?

the4starish

@angelzero: which is why he mentioned that the money has to be adequate, "get the money issue off the table" ... so it has to decent ... not terrible, certainly not to the point where you feel you need to do more just to earn more.

jayen

Great talk. If people haven't browsed ted.com it is totally worth the time.

Lots of great talks!

Lalkin

@tommertron: The thing is that he was pointing out that the jobs that tend to stay in the American job market are becoming more and more about creativity and creating solutions to problems.

The straightforward, mechanical, and scripted tasks are getting automated or outsourced. Granted, there are a few exceptions, like people who work in retail, but if you think about it, a commission system is kind of like the result oriented system.

Also, I think point C is a little flawed. People may feel like they only work for the money, but people crave stimulation. It's human nature to try to find some intellectual depth in even the most dull task to keep from becoming too bored, even if they do so subconsciously.

TVarmy

The effort I put forth on a job is directly related to the amount of money I am paid for doing that job. Perhaps that relationship would intersect, level off, and then decline at some point, but I can't imagine that happening until I were into the mid 6-figure range.

angelzero

@rick.rick: Wikipedia is accountable to its users.

angelzero

@logie: not one bit.

I didn't watch the video yet, just saw the pic. I just wanted to say I caught that guy RED-handed! Get it?! His hand is red!!

He used wikipedia as an example. Wikipedia is accountable to no one.

rick.rick

I don't really a totally results-oriented-workplace working for:

a) jobs that require someone to support customers within certain hours
b) jobs that require truly monotonous, non-creative work
c) people who do (b) for the paycheck and don't care about doing anything else

Let me be the first but certainly not last to say, DUH * infinity.

That was a ridiculously good Ted Talk. I don't like how he shouted, and ran out of breath half the time. But it was good.

If you're in (on?) Linked-In, there is a TED discussion group. Worth the few minutes per week to read the topics and discussion.

I watched this last night and I have to say, it is one of my favorite TED videos so far (and I've watched a lot of them). I want anonymously send this to my boss...

That doesn't look like a candle...

logie