“Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit”

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Entry from January 29, 2013

“Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit”

“Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit” was said by comedian George Carlin (1937-2008) in his bestselling book

(1997). However, the expression of an all-too-typical joyless work situation had been cited earlier.

“In many cases that results in your working just hard enough not to get fired, while you’re being paid just enough so that you don’t quit!” was cited in print in 1989. “Most people have a job for which they’re paid just enough not to quit, and they work just hard enough not to get fired” was cited in print in 1995.

Google Books
How to Make Big Money in Multi-Level Marketing
By Dave Roller
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall
1989
Pg. 62:
In many cases that results in your working just hard enough not to get fired, while you’re being paid just enough so that you don’t quit! And that’s a rut!

Google Books
Building Wealth:
From Rags to Riches Through Real Estate
By Russ Whitney
New York, NY: Fireside
1995
Pg. 24:
Most people have a job for which they’re paid just enough not to quit, and they work just hard enough not to get fired. Only a very few really love the work they do.

Google Books
Brain Droppings
By George Carlin
New York, NY: Hyperion
1997
Pg. 206:
Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit.

Google Books
The Power of Mentorship for Network Marketing
By Don Boyer
Whitter, CA: Real Life teaching/Publishing
2006
Pg. 83:
Never leave your future or destiny in the hands of the working world. Most people get paid just enough that they won’t quit and work just hard enough so they don’t get fired…that is not a life, that is called “hell on earth”.

Google Books
Tweet This Book:
The 1,400 Greatest Quotes of All Time in 140 Characters Or Less
By Sayre Van Young and Marin Van Young
Berkeley, CA: Ulysses Press: Distributed by Publishers Group West
2011
Pg. 36:
Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit.
George Carlin

Twitter
Dave Kerpen
‏@DaveKerpen
Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit. ~George Carlin
11:19 AM - 22 Jan 13

Posted by Barry Popik
New York City • Work/Businesses • Tuesday, January 29, 2013 • Permalink

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