Business Lesson #1

If we're looking at life and work through the lens of being a Patriarch, the provider and leader of the family, then what is the purpose of work? The purpose of work is to be able to provide a stable life for your family. Being a Patriarch is about putting the needs of the family above the need of self. While you're young and single is the time to experiment with different professions or to take risks. Once you have a wife and children, they will add many responsibilities, not the least of which is your financial responsibility to them. It is up to you to provide a stable income to supply your wife and children with shelter, food, and clothing. Not to say that there hasn't been the trial of being laid off or other unexpected financial trials, but that doesn't give the excuse to sit around and wait for an opportunity to fall in your lap. Hit the streets, find another job. Be the provider you're meant to be. As the Patriarch, you're main purpose of work is to be able to provide for your family.

Now the big question, do I need to enjoy what I do for work? Or is work just work to be able to provide for the family?

In an article published by Linley Sanders on YouGov, a study was done on would U.S. adults rather have a job that pays more or a job that they enjoy, but pays less. On average, of the 33,000 U.S. adults that were surveyed, about 50% of them said that they would rather a job they enjoy with a lower salary, with 26% saying that they would rather a job that pays more that they dislike. Most young adults would also say that they worry about money at least once a day.

According to the World Population Reviews Cost of Living statistics for 2024, the national average household income was $67,521 (before taxes) while the living wage for a family of four was $68,808 (after taxes). In order to maintain a normal standard of living (food, shelter, social safety, and interaction), the average household needs to make an extra $1,287 a year plus however much they paid in taxes.

Looking at this from the state that I live in, in order to make a living wage with a wife and two children, while being the sole provider, I would have to make $38.77 an hour. Right now, I make about $30.62 an hour, give or a take a few cents, and I made about $82,000 last year (before taxes). After taxes, I took home around $62,000 if I remember correctly. Even with 455 hours of overtime last year, I would have made less than the national average for a normal standard of living for a family of four. Not accounting for any tax breaks for dependents. However that is also 400 hours that i've lost that I could have spent with my family.

When we look at these two statistics, half the country is deciding that they would rather work at a job they enjoy and make less money, but the national average is also saying that a household of four isn't making enough for a normal standard of living. Statistically speaking, we would have to say that in order for the head of household to be able to provide for his wife and two children, that he will have to sacrifice enjoyment in work for a higher paying job.

We'll get into this part more in finances, but if we're looking at making enough money to live comfortably, have money in savings, and have a little extra for "fun" as the goal, then we'll have to sacrifice enjoyment at work for enjoyment at home, which in the end, is more important for a patriarch. However, if you can find a job that you enjoy that you can also make enough to provide for your family and also have enough for enjoyment, then that is better! At the end of the day though, it comes down to doing what it takes to be able to provide for your family first.

I'm not going to pretend that there are jobs where it would be harder to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in what your work compared to other careers. I'll be honest, if I was working in fast food or as a waste collector, I would find it very hard for me personally to feel a sense of pride or accomplishment. My days working at a gas station were some of the hardest days trying to feel satisfied and content with my life. Not to say that others can't or that people couldn't. A waste collector is a very necessary member of society and is responsible for keeping our neighborhoods and cities clean and I'm very grateful for those that work in that profession.

Let's not pretend that there hasn't been a time where we've gone out to eat and the service was either less than stellar, it took longer than we wanted it to, or one of the hundred other things that made us wish fast food had better workers. It's easy for us to complain when the experience is bad, but how many of us have told a fast food worker, "the food was really good today, thank you." or "that was exceptional service today, thank you." I'll be honest, I don't think I have. How can we expect workers in fast food to feel a sense of pride in their work when the only feedback we give them is negative.

It is good to be able to take pride and feel accomplished in your work, but that means that you have to work diligently at your job. We all know that one person that slacks off at work (I'm sure we've all had at least one day at work where that was us) and we can guess that they aren't taking pride in a job well done, but maybe they take pride in how much work they got away with not doing. 

Going back to the first section on this lesson, the main purpose of work is to provide for your family. It's great for those that enjoy what they do and I can respect a man who's doing something that he doesn't enjoy because he's better able to provide for his family by doing so. In the end, whether you enjoy it or not, everyone should strive to feel a sense of pride or satisfaction with what they're doing. It might not be every day, but it should be the goal most days. At the very least, take pride in knowing that your family is being provided for.