Happiness and Prestige

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Also in regards to comparing one’s job money and prestige to others. Not all jobs are weighted same money and level of prestige.
 
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Fuarky said:
How much should the happiness of one’s life be dependent on how much money they make or the prestige of there job?
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Suicides and anorexia tend to go up when you have more money, so I wouldn’t say money can buy happiness. It depends on the person. Some people find happiness through money or prestige. Some don’t. But the above poster is correct. Happiness does not rise after $75k per year. Perhaps more is needed in high cost of living places like NYC, San Francisco and Hawaii.
 
I worked for Epic (the EHR) and made a very good income with awesome benefits. I left after about 2 years cause I hated going to work.... Money is nice, but it’s not enough.

Although, if you ever get the chance you gotta have lunch at Epic. They had a completely different menu every day including gelato made from milk from cows that lived on site.
 
Cornfed101 said:
milk from cows that lived on site.
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That's some depressing gelato. 😱

Money is important, but there's diminishing returns once you get above six figures. The opinions of others also become less important over time. I have yet to meet someone who chased prestige and was happy because of the prestige gained. Those who are happy invariably have something else driving their happiness (family, friends, hobbies, etc). Just my observations.
 
Fruitjuice said:
I think it was ~$70k or something? Supposedly it is the amount you need for basics + a little extra. Beyond that, marginal utility diminishes. There's an article or something, too lazy to dig it up.
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I was fortunate to actually ask Mark Cuban this exact question, even quoting the $70,000 figure... He said that the more money he has, the happier he is lol
 
I used to make a good amount of money in a management role, but I was miserable because the culture was so toxic. I fared better than many of my coworkers - a couple other employees/contractors committed suicide during my time with that company. No amount of money in the world makes up for spending most of your waking hours actively hating your circumstances.
 
Another thing about prestige is that that higher up you go, the more you want. T50, T30, T20, T10, T5, Harvard, etc.

Why? The bliss of prestige is basically other people giving you recognition. But what happens when everyone around you are at your level and no one drools over your success? You'll want MORE, thinking if you just have MORE people will recognize you again. But what happens when you get to "more"? You'll be in another crowd of people who have accomplishments just as great as yours
 
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Isn't this one of the major causes for physician burnout? We all keep reaching and working so hard for these short term goals like top tier med schools, and it is these goals that keep us motivated and ends up being our purpose for living. Once we actually finish and become attendings and realize that either these things didn't matter as much or that we no longer have these type of goals to work for, we lose any will to work hard and rethink our life decisions right?

I think it's always important to keep the big picture in mind and remember you are being a physician to help others not yourself
 
Fruitjuice said:
Another thing about prestige is that that higher up you go, the more you want. T50, T30, T20, T10, T5, Harvard, etc.

Why? The bliss of prestige is basically other people giving you recognition. But what happens when everyone around you are at your level and no one drools over your success? You'll want MORE, thinking if you just have MORE people will recognize you again. But what happens when you get to "more"? You'll be in another crowd of people who have accomplishments just as great as yours
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Quite so. At first it's about getting in medical school, then residency, fellowship/job, professor, partner, chair, director, etc etc. If prestige is what you're after, you'll always have something more you think will get you to that level of satisfaction you desire short of winning the nobel prize or curing AIDS.
 
jurassicpark said:
Quite so. At first it's about getting in medical school, then residency, fellowship/job, professor, partner, chair, director, etc etc. If prestige is what you're after, you'll always have something more you think will get you to that level of satisfaction you desire short of winning the nobel prize or curing AIDS.
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Welcome to the academic rat race. I'm waiting for the day when giant rat wheels are installed in each department. :barf:
 
Angus Avagadro said:
I heard a nurse say once that if you think money can't buy happiness...then you just dont know where to shop. I disagree, but do admit things are easier when money is not scarce.
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“ Whoever said money can't solve your problems. Must not have had enough money to solve 'em” Ariana Grande “7 rings”
 
lull said:
“ Whoever said money can't solve your problems. Must not have had enough money to solve 'em” Ariana Grande “7 rings”
[/QUOTE
It's TRUE. Most problems dissolve if you rub enough money on them. That said, it doesnt take alot of money to have fun. I have been on both sides.
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I'm sure can find temporary, fleeting happiness associated with material rewards, like that rush you get when you buy a new expensive toy, or get your a** kissed for your career/academic prestige, but as time passes, it won't really last.

I think if you want meaningful, lasting happiness, you have to base it on something that's a lot more intrinsic, like family, helping others, etc.

I also really don't think people care *that* much about someone's prestige at the end of the day. "Hi, I'm Dr. X, and I'm a this-that famous surgeon/oncologist/etc.", and sure people will think wow, that's cool, but a few minutes later they'll forget and not really think twice about it. If you try to find happiness in that instead of the actual work you're doing/more intrinsic things, I can't see that being sustainable long-term.
 
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Fuarky said:
How much should the happiness of one’s life be dependent on how much money they make or the prestige of there job?
Click to expand...
Lots of people get off on it. I do. Prestige feels comforting and warm, like a heated blanket. It makes you feel special and wonderful. Like money. How much money you have is a reflection of you. Do you know what the world's most prestigious leaderboard is? the forbes list of the richest people alive.
 
JanetSnakehole said:
I used to make a good amount of money in a management role, but I was miserable because the culture was so toxic. I fared better than many of my coworkers - a couple other employees/contractors committed suicide during my time with that company. No amount of money in the world makes up for spending most of your waking hours actively hating your circumstances.
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I've heard a lot of management jobs suck! Also...where you making about that 75k benchmark mentioned earlier ( not trying to pry, just making a point about well how much money was it). Glad I never considered management. I always imagine it's about corraling a bunch of angry coworkers.
 
mwsapphire said:
I've heard a lot of management jobs suck! Also...where you making about that 75k benchmark mentioned earlier ( not trying to pry, just making a point about well how much money was it). Glad I never considered management. I always imagine it's about corraling a bunch of angry coworkers.
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I was a little north of $75K, actually. Not quite 6 figures, but enough to be very financially comfortable (despite living in an extraordinarily expensive metro area) in our dual income/no kids household.

You're mostly correct with your assessment of management. 90% of your time is going to be spent trying to get everyone on the same page and being diplomatic. I don't think I'll ever want to act in a management or direct supervisory role again. I love being a leader, but leadership =/= management in my view.
 
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