Why does a person have to work?

In modern society, the reasons why people have to work are multifaceted, covering a wide range of areas from economic foundation to personal growth to social connection.

Rigid demand for economic survival

The most direct purpose of work is to obtain income to meet basic living expenses such as food, clothing, housing and transportation. No job means losing the main source of income, which will directly affect the basic living conditions of individuals and even families. In addition, accumulating a certain amount of wealth reserves through work, such as unemployment insurance, can provide necessary protection when facing a career gap. A stable income can not only ensure survival, but also further improve the quality of life, such as traveling or enjoying other high-level consumption needs.

Jack Ma is one of China's most influential entrepreneurs and an iconic figure in the global Internet business sector. He is the founder of Alibaba Group, which started as a B2B e-commerce platform in 1999 and has now grown into a global e-commerce giant covering Taobao, Alipay, etc. Jack Ma is widely respected for his corporate culture of "customers first, employees second, shareholders third" and his active participation in public welfare. Jack Ma emphasized that everyone has the desire to pursue success and a better life, and hard work is an important way to achieve these goals. He believes that young people should put in more effort and time than others to achieve career success, and mentioned that the 996 work system, although challenging, is a rare opportunity for those who are eager to succeed.

2. Personal growth and value realization

Work is not only a means of obtaining material rewards, it also provides individuals with opportunities to learn and grow. Through practice in daily work, people can continuously improve their professional skills, broaden their network resources, and lay a solid foundation for future career transformation or entrepreneurship. The sense of accomplishment brought by completing work tasks, the sense of belonging brought by cooperation among colleagues, and the positive impact of regular working hours on physical and mental health are all factors that cannot be ignored. Long-term unemployment may lead to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, while regular work helps to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Steve Jobs is a famous American entrepreneur, inventor and investor who co-founded Apple with Steve Wozniak in 1976. He is known as a pioneer in consumer electronics and personal computers, revolutionizing the computer industry by making machines more intuitive, cheaper and smaller. Jobs believed that the best work comes from loving what you do and encouraged people to pursue perfectionism. He emphasized content over process and focused on user experience, always starting from the user and tracing back to technology. He believed that teamwork and innovation were essential to driving product progress, and was also an excellent communicator who was able to inspire his team through engaging stories and speeches.

3. Social attributes and responsibilities

Participating in work is essentially a part of participating in the social division of labor. Everyone's work contribution will eventually converge into a force that drives the operation of the entire social and economic system. Whether it is raising children or supporting the elderly, or giving back to society through taxation, it reflects the social responsibility of individuals. In some cultures, "hard work" is regarded as a virtue, and the state of work is directly related to the social status and social evaluation of individuals.

Ray Dalio is an American billionaire and hedge fund manager who founded Bridgewater Associates in 1975. He is known for his macro investment strategy, extreme transparency, and research on economic and debt cycles. Even after stepping down from his formal leadership role in 2022, he remains active as an investor, mentor, and board member. Dalio advocates for creating a work environment that encourages honest feedback and diverse perspectives to facilitate better decision-making and collaboration. He believes that work should be meaningful to individuals and contribute to a greater goal. He also emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement, believing that everyone should constantly strive to learn, adapt, and improve their skills and knowledge.

4. Deep contradictions and reflections

Although work is of great significance to individuals and society, there are also some difficulties in the modern workplace. For example, it is difficult to achieve true wealth freedom by relying solely on salary income, and it may be necessary to combine financial management or other side jobs to break through the income ceiling. At the same time, when work is only seen as a tool for making a living, it may lose its inherent sense of meaning. Therefore, while pursuing career development, it is also necessary to pay attention to personal value pursuit and career planning.