OBJECTIVIST MOTIVATION

Ayn Rand’s Objectivist motivation boils down to one statement—Existence exists. You exist and in order to continue to exist, there are facts that need to be logically and rationally incorporated within the self, recognized, and exercised. Food, shelter, etc. And that logic continues on to other levels of life and Objectivism and complexity.

In another life a number of years ago, I worked for Armand Hammer, a few levels beneath, but became exposed to him and his traveling video production group, and during conducting him through the project and explaining the different phases and progress, became a little nervous about the cameras and production people as well as curious. I asked one of the production people what this was all about.

I learned that Hammer, during his later years had decided to develop a series of productions for Occidental’s management and for others. A significant portion of the series dealt with the need to understand the differences of what motivates employees as well as others that one dealt with throughout business and life.

What Hammer believed was that the environment and conditions of the decade in which one comes to adulthood becomes a primary motivator for much of the rest of one’s life. He used as illustration his own teen years in Russia as a young Jew (with his need for his freedom to accomplish and live without fear), then that of those that came to age during the depression of the thirties (the need for a sense of security even more than high pay and personal recognition), those that then came to age during WWII, etc.

That occurred in 82 and I was in my mid 30’s. I’d reached senior engineer and manager with responsibilities greater at a much earlier age than a lot of employees significantly older than I, and many working for me. I’d done well in my relationships, but there was friction—some that I was never able to overcome that bothered me. I didn’t seek or expect friendship as much as I did mutual respect and acceptance beyond mere age.

Hammer’s thoughts and examples had a significant impact on me in future experience with those I was responsible for, worked for, or negotiated with. In exploring those thoughts and that approach to others, I felt that I understood my own motivations, both personally and as a practicing Objectivist.

But I’ve always wanted to have a conversation with other Objectivists about what do they see as their motivations, where-ever that drives them to. So what do you think?