Chris Groves – Money is helpful but the greater good is far more motivating

Leaving the Service without a doubt financially was an excellent decision, without a doubt.

I have made far more money by leaving than I would have done if I’d stayed. I also have learnt that having lots of money, or more money, doesn’t make you any happier. It genuinely does not make you any happier.

We all say that. It doesn’t make you any happier and I think what really motivates you is a feeling of self-worth and value and doing something for the greater good. Well, that’s what motivates me, I don’t think it motivates everybody.

Lots of people are motivated by the size of their Bank Balance I suppose or the fact they’ve got a brand-new car or whatever it happens to be.

Of course, you need enough to be comfortable, and you want enough to be comfortable, but I think what really motivates you is …

I loved working with a good team doing something that was worth getting out of bed for and getting a sense of satisfaction you know at the end of the day and coming back from a Patrol with a team that has been with you for the whole Patrol with shared experiences and having done something that you can really be proud of and gone through things that have been really challenging and come out the other side better for it, was hugely motivating I think.