Obviously it can be a bit of both. I’m sure a lot of those guys on Wall Street get off on the high stakes, competitive environment along with all of the benefits to being wealthy. On the other hand, some people choose jobs that don’t pay much but give them a high degree of satisfaction. But I surmise that most people, particularly men, are mainly motivated extrinsically in their jobs to provide for their families, to maintain a certain lifestyle, or simply to survive.
I’m working in gaming, which is pretty interesting, and you meet cool people. It’s not the best paying job in the world, but it’s a good job. Plus since it’s in Tokyo, I get to buy stuff I wouldn’t find where I live, which is a nice bonus.