People spend a good chunk of their adult lives working, which may not be too bad for those who are successful in their chosen careers. But what does success mean? LinkedIn just revealed the results of a new survey that examined what drives people at work and what makes them get up and go to the office each day.
Professionals gave insight into how they feel about success, what success means, and how to achieve it. The survey featured 2,000 adults working both full and part-time. Some of their observations are quite interesting.
While the fabled corner office seems like a great perk, only 4 percent of survey participants see it as a “win.” The rest don’t care about that type of office location.
Only 14 percent feel that having a job your peers admire is important. They prioritize their own ambitions versus what other people think.
Thirty-four percent of professionals admit they would take a 10 percent pay cut if they could be their “own boss” and create their own schedules. Unsurprisingly, flexibility is becoming increasingly more valued in the workplace.
Over the years, some people have gotten creative with their job titles (see sales ninja, new media guru and communications ambassador) but 89 percent of professionals believe that skills are more important than titles. The number-one goal of professionals for 2018 happens to be “learning a new skill.” This makes sense because the more skills you possess, the more valuable you become.
About 40 percent of professionals don’t believe being passionate about a job is a measure of success. In fact, 69 percent say they do their jobs for the paycheck. Seventy-four percent of participants say being financially comfortable is a top priority and they work so they don’t have to worry about money.
Interestingly, 36 percent of professionals are making money on the side. This includes things such as freelance work on the weekends to other side projects.
Eighty-seven percent of professionals measure success not by their own accomplishments but by what they inspire others to achieve. Nearly 40 percent say teaching others makes them feel most successful. So, if you’re looking for a mentor, you may be surprised by who’s willing to help you out.
Sixty-five percent of survey participants say they keep their options open in case something better comes along. LinkedIn recommends professionals actively engage with their network and look for opportunities both in and out of the office.
