The surprising truth about motivation

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Abstract

ot <a href="https://youtu.be/q6v_eSNVxec">Get busy</a>, find a <a href="https://dilbert.com/strip/1992-01-08">purpose</a> and take a little advice from Steve Jobs:<ul><li>Were here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise, why else even be here?</li><li>In weak companies politics win, in strong companies best ideas win.</li><li>Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.</li><li>I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.</li><li>I always advise people — Don’t wait! Do something when you are young, when you have nothing to lose, and keep that in mind.</li><li>Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.</li><li>Its very interesting, I was worth about over a million dollars when I was 23 and over 10 million when I was 24 and over a hundred millio

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n when I was 25 and it wasn’t that important because I never did it for the money.</li></ul>Good luck and have a great year ;o)<h1 id="64f2">Summary</h1>Carrot and stick is not a motivator for cognitive work:<ul><li>Money is only a motivator if it is an issue.</li><li>The best use of money as a motivator is to pay people enough to take the issue of money off the table.</li></ul>Motivators:<ul><li>We care about mastery deeply</li><li>Challenge and mastery along with making a contribution.</li><li>We want to be self directed — So give people what they need and get out of their way.</li><li>We all need some purpose</li></ul>Purpose:<ul><li>We are purpose maximisers not just profit maximisers</li><li>Companies are moving from a focus on profit to purpose.</li><li>People need a reason to get up in the morning.</li><li>Keep purpose in your back pocket</li><li>Purpose gives you reason and reason is enough to make it work in this world.</li></ul>Purpose makes the difference<ul><li>It is a way to get better talent.</li><li>When the profit motive becomes unmoored from the purpose bad things happen, ethically issues, crappy products, lame services.</li></ul></article></body>

The surprising truth about motivation

My first blog post a little over 12 years ago was a link to this video:

So it is fitting to come back to it and blogging at the same time.

I’m currently at the beginning of Q4 in my career, looking for a strong finish, something interesting, this purpose can then be translated into some goals to give it direction.

To have fun along the way

Dev to Tech Lead, get out of my comfort zone, the rabbit hole.

Tech Coach, so i can travel again and surf once the kids take off.

Start or be involved in a significant project that changes peoples lives for the better.

Possibly a book or training.

So in 2023 why not Get busy, find a purpose and take a little advice from Steve Jobs:

Were here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise, why else even be here?

In weak companies politics win, in strong companies best ideas win.

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.

I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

I always advise people — Don’t wait! Do something when you are young, when you have nothing to lose, and keep that in mind.

Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.

Its very interesting, I was worth about over a million dollars when I was 23 and over 10 million when I was 24 and over a hundred million when I was 25 and it wasn’t that important because I never did it for the money.

Good luck and have a great year ;o)

Summary

Carrot and stick is not a motivator for cognitive work:

Money is only a motivator if it is an issue.

The best use of money as a motivator is to pay people enough to take the issue of money off the table.

Motivators:

We care about mastery deeply

Challenge and mastery along with making a contribution.

We want to be self directed — So give people what they need and get out of their way.

We all need some purpose

Purpose:

We are purpose maximisers not just profit maximisers

Companies are moving from a focus on profit to purpose.

People need a reason to get up in the morning.

Keep purpose in your back pocket

Purpose gives you reason and reason is enough to make it work in this world.

Purpose makes the difference

It is a way to get better talent.

When the profit motive becomes unmoored from the purpose bad things happen, ethically issues, crappy products, lame services.