I was asked to write an annual “letter from the CEO” as we head into the new year. For those of you who know me well, you’re aware that I have more interest in writing about feelings and emotions than I do about hardcore technical financial concepts. So, as I sit here on a Sunday morning, the topic that comes to mind—and the one I feel most compelled to talk about—is a concept I’ve discussed throughout the year as a guest on several podcasts: my belief that all humans are motivated by two things—the pursuit of being loved and valued.
Where does this idea come from? Maybe evolution. If we look through human history, we can see that our sheer survival may have depended on strong social connections—resource sharing and protection, for example. From a psychological perspective, there is endless research on this concept, but I often cite Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Once our basic physiological needs and need for safety are met, all the other levels in his framework point to a desire to be loved and valued—whether through belonging, esteem, or even self-actualization. Pursuits at the highest level often relate to giving back to society, and those efforts are typically fueled by the emotional security of feeling loved and the confidence that comes from feeling valued.
I believe in this idea so strongly that it has become the lens through which I view people and situations. Consider pausing for a moment to reflect on someone you know—or even someone you’ve read about—whose behavior confuses or frustrates you. Is it such a stretch to see how their desire to be loved or valued might have shaped their actions?
In fact, I’ve come to believe that all human motivation stems from one source: a desire to be loved. After all, couldn’t feeling valued simply be another way of expressing that one feels loved?
As we head into the new year, I encourage you to keep this perspective in mind when dealing with others—especially when their actions frustrate or disappoint you. It may help you find empathy, recognizing that they’re likely just seeking what we all are—the need to be loved.
Happy New Year!
