Blogging and Cognitive Evaluation Theory
I am currently teaching a section of Organizational Management at a local university, and tonight my class talked about motivation theories (how supervisors and organizations motivate employees). Based on the research, I don’t think that any single theorist has it down pat, but I do find one possible application to blogging rather interesting.
According to Robbins & Judge (Essentials of Organizational Behavior vol. 9),
Cognitive evaluation theory proposes that the introduction of extrinsic rewards, such as pay, for work effort that was previously intrinsically rewarding (due to the pleasure associated with the content of the work itself) tends to decrease overall motivation. In other words, when extrinsic rewards are given to someone for performing an interesting task, it causes intrinsic interest in the task to decline.
Basically, this says: If you do it for the love, you won’t love it as much if you decide to do it for the money.
Love or Money
This reminds me of a recent topic on the Money Blog Network forums. Several bloggers that are making a very nice income from their blogs insisted that they do it purely for the love of writing. A few admitted that they would lose interest in blogging if the money stopped flowing in.
I have chosen not to monetize this blog primarily because I don’t want it to be seen as a conflict of interest if someone from my firm should happen to stumble upon it. I also really like the freedom of being able to write when I want to - I am perfectly content not to obsess about my blog’s statistics and analytics (although I’m well aware that my readership would likely increase if I stuck to a regular posting schedule).
I’m pretty sure that I would lose interest in blogging, at least about finance, if I did it for money. I may decide to monetize someday (especially if I change roles at my full time work), but for now, posting my thoughts online just because it’s fun is enough.
Stumble it!
March 11th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I think your probably right - I did put Google Adsense and BlogHer advertising on my blog, but it certainly isn’t making any income for me. All that was actually an afterthought for me- when I started the blogging. My motivation was kind of selfish - I started blogging to sort out all my thoughts and maybe get some interesting feedback. With a second motivation of maybe helping somebody else along the way. I don’t think it would be as fun and spontaneous if it was sort of a “job.” But that’s just me…
P.S.
I liked your 6-word financial autobiography!
March 12th, 2008 at 9:25 am
I like your attitude
March 13th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I have to disagree. It’s not the money that interferes with the joy of the work/process/hobby, it’s the conditions that come with the money.
Generally, when you are doing something for love, you do it how you want to do it. When you get money for it, someone else takes the power from you and applies certain conditions for you to get the money.
Good examples are writers/actors/directors who aren’t powerful enough to force studios to do the movie how they want it. Actors like Clooney have the power and seem to enjoy the process much more than others in the business who lose power over their projects….and Clooney makes plenty of money.
Find a way to keep the power over yourself and your creation, and the money will not be a negative.