
What Intrinsically Motivates Us (Hint: It’s not money)
David, a tech leader and a father of two, was in a big dilemma about a job offer. The money was higher than what he was making in his current job, but something else didn’t feel right. His friends said he should take it – “after all, you do the work for money, like a mercenary.”
Humans are driven only by money, and materialistic rewards is a false premise. Research shows that additional money doesn’t increase our motivation when we have enough money to meet our regular needs (higher than just basics). Especially if the work needs creativity or deep thinking, money doesn’t guarantee higher performance. In his book Drive, Daniel Pink said, Autonomy, Mastery, and Contributing to a bigger purpose are the three factors that intrinsically drive us.
- Autonomy is the sense that I have a choice in what I do when I do.
- Mastery means I am learning new things; I am gaining expertise.
- Contributing to a bigger purpose gives people the fulfillment that I am part of something much more significant, making a difference in the bigger community.
- Play– I enjoy the work.
- Purpose – My work impacts something bigger than me that I care about.
- Potential – I am good at what I do; I learn and grow by doing my work. It creates future opportunities for me.
- Emotional pressure – I do it because others expect me to do it; my identity is attached to it.
- Economic pressure – I do it because I am dependent on the income/reward and want to avoid any consequence/punishment.
- Inertia – I don’t know why I am doing it, and I don’t have the energy to look for anything else.


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