Are you Really Worried About What Others Get?
I read a recent article where a progressive entrepreneur raised the minimum wage of all of his employees so even the lowest paid employee at the company would be making $70,000. Sounds like a great idea, right. I mean, who would be upset about this? It turns out that a lot of people who made more than the new 70K minimum at the company were so upset that others were getting this bump, they quit. This is something with which I have never been able to identify. Maybe it comes from a certain level of narcissism, but I always figured it was a great thing when somebody else got a raise in pay or a reward of some kind and what difference does it make what I get in comparison. Honestly, if I am unhappy with what I am getting in compensation or reward I would either tell those who can change it (the boss) or I would leave for a better offer. (And make no mistake, I have done this.) It also helps that I love what I do for a living. Maybe there is some psychological trigger in humans that says we have to have more than others and if we can’t have more then they need to have less. Next time you do a comparison of this kind, stop and ask yourself, are you genuinely happy with your compensation? If you are, why would you begrudge someone else’s good fortune. Even if you know that the guy getting the raise does nothing all day compared to you. Don’t let your sense of self worth be driven by comparisons with others.