Who Do You Work For
Think about these words, who do you work for? Many times when we have a boss we think we work for them, but do we? Read the poem and you may find a completely different answer than you expected.
While there are many poems about work, you will find that Edgar A. Guest has a way of writing poems that make us stop and think. His words are ones that we should reflect on. So after reading his poem answer the question who do you work for?
Updated April 25, 2026, by Catherine Pulsifer.
Who Is Your Boss?
I work for someone else, he said;
"I have no chance to get ahead.
At night I leave the job behind;
At morn I face the same old grind.
And everything I do by day
Just brings to me the same old pay.
While I am here I cannot see
The semblance of a chance for me."
I asked another how he viewed
The occupation he pursued.
It's dull and dreary toil, said he,
"And brings but small reward to me.
My boss gets all the profits fine
That I believe are rightly mine.
My life's monotonously grim
Because I'm forced to work for him."
I stopped a third young man to ask
His attitude towards his task.
A cheerful smile lit up his face;
I shan't be always in this place,
He said, "because some distant day
A better job will come my way."
Your boss? I asked, and answered he:
"I'm going to make him notice me.
He pays me wages and in turn"
That money I am here to earn,
But I don't work for him alone;
Allegiance to myself I own.
I do not do my best because
It gets me favors or applause--
I work for him, but I can see
That actually I work for me.
"It looks like business good to me
The best clerk on the staff to be.
If customers approve my style
And like my manner and my smile
I help the firm to get the pelf,
But what is more I help myself.
From one big thought I'm never free:
That every day I work for me."
Oh, youth, thought I, you're bound to climb
The ladder of success in time.
Too many self-impose the cross
Of daily working for a boss,
Forgetting that in failing him
It is their own stars that they dim.
And when real service they refuse
They are the ones who really lose.
Key Messages from This Poem
- Your attitude toward your work shapes your future more than your job title or boss.
- When you give your best effort, you are not just working for someone else, you are building your own success.
- Seeing your work as a personal responsibility leads to growth, confidence, and opportunity.
- A positive mindset can turn even ordinary tasks into steps forward in your life.
- Those who take pride in their work and go the extra mile are more likely to be noticed and advance.
- Blaming a boss or situation can hold you back, while taking ownership helps you move ahead.
- Every day at work is a chance to improve yourself, your skills, and your future.
- Success comes from realizing that your effort benefits you just as much as it benefits others.
- True progress begins when you understand that you are ultimately working for yourself.
What This Poem Teaches Us About Work
This poem teaches that work is not only about wages, a boss, or a daily task. It is also about the kind of person we become through our effort. When we work with a willing attitude, give honest service, and take pride in what we do, we are building our own character and future.
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Conclusion
This poem reminds us that while we may have a boss or a job, our effort truly belongs to us. The attitude we bring to our work, the pride we take in what we do, and the effort we give each day all shape our future. When we do our best, not just for others but for ourselves, we open the door to growth and new opportunities.
No matter where you are in your work or life, remember that every task is a chance to improve, to learn, and to move forward. In the end, the question is not just who you work for, but how you choose to work each day.
More Edgar A. Guest Poems
"The biggest job we have is to make the most of what we are given."
— Edgar A. Guest