Comments on: The One Thing I Would Have Liked To Say While On 20/20

By: If you’re not growing, you’re dying. | Bizzy Women

If you’re not growing, you’re dying. | Bizzy Women — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:12:32 +0000

[...] end of the day, I am so excited and passionate about the decision I’ve made. And if you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, why even [...]

By: If you’re not growing, you’re dying. « Politicoholic by Nisha Chittal

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:51:59 +0000

[...] the day, I am so excited and passionate about the decision I’ve made. And if you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, why even [...]

By: Ryan Paugh

Ryan Paugh — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:33:10 +0000

Emily — I agree. Maybe when salary is more transparent we can focus on the real value people bring into the office (passion, drive, inspiration, etc, etc).

I think the biggest problem is that your salary makes it easy to quantify your worth to a company, but really it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to recruiting and retaining valuable people.

By: Emily Stoddard Furrow

Emily Stoddard Furrow — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:21:56 +0000

Really interesting, Ryan… I think our generation is naturally more transparent and forthcoming with this kind of information. We’re used to sharing a lot about ourselves in online environments, for instance, and I think we were taught to be forthcoming as children as a way of connecting, learning to share with others, etc. Part of “playing nice” and working toward equity is being transparent.

Furthermore, I think our generation also puts a unique emphasis on the value we bring to a job. We like to know our work matters, and consequently, we’d prefer to be compensated in a way that reflects the value we bring rather than our years of experience or supposed lack of experience as it relates to co-workers with more seniority.

I’ve been in situations where I know others are paid much more just because they have experience on paper (whatever that magical number of years is), while in practice, I bring a skill set that may be more sophisticated and harder to find in my market. Without more transparency about salary and clearer expectations about what “value” means in a job, it’s difficult to know when a job situation is equitable and (financially) rewarding.

By: Ryan Paugh

Ryan Paugh — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:41:10 +0000

Hey Katie,

Thanks for commenting. I think we are in the same boat when it comes to how we weigh our salaries versus our passion for the job itself. That was my biggest problem with the 20/20 interview … nowhere did anyone talk about their passions for the job. Well … people did talk about it. It just didn’t make it on air.

By: Katie Konrath

Katie Konrath — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:08:14 +0000

I like how you mention passion as something that’s an important consideration about your salary. I feel the same way. When I’m doing something I enjoy and am passionate about, I’m getting so much more out of my job than just the $$$. I’d much rather have that than a high paying job that makes me feel depressed every Sunday night because I have to work the next day.