Engineering and the Power of Making a Difference

From Barry Schartz and Why We Work:

"To start with, I don't think most people recognize themselves in Adam Smith's description of wage-driven idlers.  Of course, we care about our wages, and we wouldn't work without them.  But we care about more than money.  We want work that is challenging and engaging, that enables us to exercise some discretion and control over what we do and grow.  We want to work with colleagues we respect and with supervisors who respect us.  Most of all, we want work that is meaningful - that makes a difference to other people and thus enables us in at least some small way."