An Objectivist entrepreneur is motivated to pursue an idea for their own purposes, applying their creative ambitions to produce something of value. The execution of their creative abilities toward a purposeful goal is self-rewarding, self-fulfilling and the source of their motivation. But does the same motivation apply to an employee? Or are incentive and motivation synonymous for an employee? Can the principles that motivate an entrepreneur motivate an employee as well?
Motivation amongst employees varies depending on their skill levels and personal ambitions. Unfortunately, for some employees, incentive, in the form of compensation and benefits, is synonymous with their motivation. They are motivated to work solely for their livelihood. In a corporate culture based on Paternalism this often breeds an attitude of “them vs us”. These employees view themselves as mere pawns, subordinate to the ambitions of their superior’s with the success of the enterprise having little meaning to them; and thus not a source of motivation in their work.
However, the corporate culture an Objectivist entrepreneur encourages is based on Individualism (Employer/Employee Relationship). Employees are encouraged to view themselves not as subordinates but participants in the pursuit of the enterprise’s goals, with the enterprise viewed as the vehicle for achieving their individual goals. This sense of ownership and participation in the enterprise’s success adds meaning and purpose to their work beyond merely the incentive of earning a livelihood.
Incentives alone, especially in today’s world, are insufficient. Many are motivated to seek employment in enterprises that provides them a sense of mission and purpose that encourage entrepreneurship from within. An Objectivist entrepreneur motivates these employees by making an employee’s work “mission translatable.” The mission they as an entrepreneur pursues they strive to translate into a mission that creates purpose for each of their employees. They encourage independent, innovative thinking, where employees as individuals, are responsible and accountable for their actions.
“We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?”
Steve Jobs
Ultimately it is not the scale nor nature of the enterprise but rather the nature of the individual that defines an entrepreneurial spirit within an employee. With the success of the enterprise viewed as the vehicle for their success, within the scope of their responsibilities, an employee that shares that goal shares the same motivations as the entrepreneur.
But, while the principles of Individualism can motivate an employee it comes with responsibilities and challenges for the employee as well. The enterprise may operate within a specific market. The employee may only be working within a specific department of the company. Both limit the scope of creative opportunities the employee may pursue. While the entrepreneur faces the challenge of selling their idea to investors and customers, the employee must sell the merits of their idea to the entrepreneur. They must negotiate resources to be allocated by the enterprise. They must solicit support of other employees, recognizing as individuals they too have ambitions of their own. But if they accept these responsibilities and challenges, where they are judged for their failures and rewarded for their successes, they will be as motivated for the enterprise to succeed as the entrepreneur is them self.
An Objectivist entrepreneur motivates employees with work that is mission translatable and purposeful, where the employee views the enterprise’s success as the vehicle for their success. Just as Individualism directs the actions of the entrepreneur they direct those of the employee as well. Large or small, within the scope of their responsibilities, creativity, self-actualization, productive achievement toward a purposeful goal is self-rewarding and the ultimate source of all employees motivations.
“Productive work is the central purpose of a rational man’s life, the central value that integrates and determines the hierarchy of all his other values.”
Ayn Rand