I read an article a few weeks ago over at Lifehack.org called "Create Your Best Work Life with One Question" — the question, of course, was "What's in it for me?"

At my old job, we called that "the WIIFM factor", with WIIFM said like a rhyme to "skip 'em". It's inevitable that having a personal stake in the place you work is crucial, especially if you're a twentysomething pulling down an entry-level paycheck. There's got to be something there that makes you get up in the morning and trudge through things day after day.

Maybe you've got a work crush.

Maybe there's fresh fruit and bagels every day when you get in.

Thing is, there has to be something there which vibes with you and gets you going. And when that's not there, then what's the point?

I was looking over my resume the other day and noticed a trend — since I left college, I hadn't held down a job for more than a year and a half, tops. Thing is, I don't feel bad about that at all. And most employers don't feel bad about that either considering how many job offers I've been getting lately. But I realize the one fundamental reason why eventually I parted company with these companies.

There wasn't anything in it for me.

At the box office, they were content with me shelling out tix to the elderly arts crowd for $7 an hour, even with a degree in Mathematics.

At AT.c, while I was an account manager, they were content with me staying in my same place answering phones, even though I had a career path to go into business analyst work. The killing part was that they gave me cross training AND set up interviews for me, only to yank it out from under me. The firing just came as a coincidence.

And at the last job, aside from Micro-Manager and her coven, there was no path of growth for my position. They were also against me pursuing my Master's degree.

And at the current/soon-to-be-last job, my hard work wasn't appreciated by my manager, I was getting maligned by co-workers, and got passed over for promotions that I definitely deserved, but went to flunkies of the boss.

I realize that I'm not one that plays office politics, at least not willingly. I go to work to do a job, and that's it. Amicable friendships with co-workers…I see that as a plus. But I'll be damned if I work somewhere, bust my hump, and then don't get credit for it.

That shit don't fly in my universe.

That's what has to be in it for me.