All About Working

“Paula Abdul quits American Idol.”

Yes, this morning’s news is filled with reports that Paula Abdul will not be returning as a judge on the ever-popular American Idol television show. According to sources close to her, FOX offered her a contract and it was her decision to turn it down. Ms. Abdul has been the judge who continually provides some sort of positive feedback to the contestants when they perform on the show. She was a welcome balance between the harshness of Simon Cowell and the “Hey Dog” and pitchiness comments by Randy Jackson.

This turn of events got me wondering several things:

Was money the issue?

Did last season’s addition of a fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi change the way Ms. Abdul was able to do her work? She seemed to change parts of the style she had been using last season and perhaps it didn’t feel right?

Is Ms. Abdul losing the satisfaction and motivation for working with the show?

Although American Idol is show business, it still is just that, business. And as all businesses do, it employs people and provides them with jobs. Many of the same dynamics are at work here as we see in businesses every single day. So what can we glean from this situation?

First the money issue. Figures of 45 million dollar contracts for host Ryan Seacrest have also been in the headlines. So perhaps the value of the job being done is in question?

But is money the only reason why people work? Research has shown that it is not the highest factor on the list of why people stay at a job

Could it be that the desire to work on other things has become more important? Maybe, the motivation that Ms. Abdul once had on the American Idol set is no longer there?

How many times do we question the value of why we remain on a job?

Do we remain doing work that gives us no satisfaction because we have to keep the paycheck coming? Do we deny ourselves the opportunity to learn new skills that could lead us to a more satisfying way to make our living?

Sometimes it takes a headline in the news to look at our own situations and realize that motivation plays a critical role in our work life. If money is your motivation, then go for the job that is going to get you the dollars you seek. If deriving satisfaction from the work you do is the motivating force, then make sure you are getting the amount that you need.

Seek out opportunities that best fit the goals of your life.