What and how motivates people the most to achieve great success
What Motivates People Most
Intrinsic Motivation (Internal Drive):
Purpose and Meaning: People are deeply motivated when their work aligns with personal values or a sense of contributing to something bigger. For example, Elon Musk’s drive to colonise Mars stems from his belief in humanity’s multi-planetary future.
Mastery and Growth: The desire to improve skills and overcome challenges fuels success. High achievers like Serena Williams thrive on mastering their craft through relentless practice.
Autonomy: Control over one’s work or destiny is a powerful motivator. Entrepreneurs like Sara Blakely (Spanx founder) are driven by the freedom to shape their path.
Extrinsic Motivation (External Rewards):
Recognition and Status: Public acknowledgement or social prestige can push people to excel. Nobel laureates or Olympic medalists often cite recognition as a key driver.
Financial Rewards: Money motivates, especially when tied to tangible goals. Studies show performance-based incentives can boost productivity by 20-30% in certain contexts (e.g., sales roles).
Competition: Beating rivals or achieving benchmarks drives many, as seen in athletes or tech innovators racing to outdo competitors.
Emotional and Psychological Triggers:
Fear of Failure: The dread of not succeeding can propel action. J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter while facing poverty, driven by a need to avoid failure.
Proving Others Wrong: Defiance against doubters motivates many, like Michael Jordan, who used rejection from his high school basketball team as fuel.
Love or Legacy: Doing it for family, community, or future generations inspires long-term commitment. Founders like Walt Disney built empires to leave a lasting impact.
How People Are Motivated Most Effectively
Clear Goals and Feedback:
Setting specific, challenging, yet achievable goals (e.g., SMART goals) increases motivation. A 2015 study in Organisational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes found that goal-setting improved performance by 12-15% across industries.
Regular feedback helps people adjust and stay engaged. High achievers seek mentors or systems to track progress (e.g., analytics in sports or business).
Environment and Support:
Positive Culture: Surrounding oneself with driven peers or mentors amplifies motivation. Silicon Valley’s startup ecosystem thrives on this dynamic.
Resources and Tools: Access to training, technology, or funding removes barriers, enabling focus on achievement.
Accountability: Public commitments or partnerships (e.g., co-founders) keep people on track. Weight loss studies show accountability groups boost success rates by 65%.
Mindset and Habits:
Growth Mindset: Believing abilities can improve through effort (Carol Dweck’s research) sustains motivation. Failures become learning opportunities.
Discipline Over Motivation: High achievers like Kobe Bryant relied on routines, not fleeting inspiration. Daily habits compound into success.
Visualisation and Affirmation: Mental techniques, like imagining success or repeating mantras, boost confidence. Olympians often use visualisation to enhance performance.
Balancing Intrinsic and Extrinsic:
Over-reliance on extrinsic rewards (e.g., money) can erode intrinsic drive (Deci & Ryan’s Self-Determination Theory). The most successful blend is one that combines pursuing passion with leveraging external incentives.
For example, Steve Jobs was driven by creating revolutionary products (intrinsic) but also valued Apple’s market dominance (extrinsic).
Practical Takeaways
To maximise motivation:
Identify your “why” (purpose or personal driver).
Set clear, incremental goals with regular progress checks.
Build a supportive network and eliminate distractions.
Cultivate habits that align with your long-term vision.
Balance passion with practical rewards to stay grounded.
Be persistent
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Original post by @dobartim
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