The Engine That Moves Us

What pushes us forward? What is moving us to action? Why do we do what we do?

We currently live in a world full of stimulations, entertainment, and hyper-connectivity, but we find it hard to understand why we do things. We all have an internal engine but it doesn’t run with the same fuel for each of us. We are moved by different motivations.

Our behavior is defined by two types of factors: the external ones; and the internal ones. An external motivation factor can be our teammates, someone close to you, or a promotion, it is something that is not born from within us.

On the other hand, internal factors are personal, they come with us. We can look for recognition that gratifies us, or want to know more about a certain subject just for the joy of learning.

Both external and internal motivation are necessary.

However, the thing with external motivation is that we cannot control it, it does not depend on us. Once the specific factor disappears we need another stimulus to keep moving.

Internal motivation on the contrary is born from within, is part of us and it is something we can identify and control on our benefit. Currently, there is no ‘unified masterly theory’ to explain its origin and elements. Internal or “Intrinsic” motivation has been studied intensively by psychologists working with students since 1972. Based on the research it is believed that students driven by internal motivation:

• Attribute their educational outcomes to the internal factors they can control, for example, the amount of effort they invested, not a “particular skill or ability”.
• Believe that they can be effective agents in achieving the goals they wish to achieve (e.g., results are not determined by randomness).
• Are motivated towards a masterly knowledge of an issue, rather than a machine learning that can be used to approve.

“If You Are Working On Something That You Really Care About, You Don’t Have To Be Pushed. The Vision Pulls You.” — Steve Jobs.

In collaborative knowledge-sharing communities, members often claim to have different reasons for their participation that might go from altruistic ones to self-achievement, like for example contributing to a common good, a moral obligation to the group, an educational task, retribution to society or simple recognition from peers.

Understanding what determines our behavior is vital to achieving what we want and do it effectively. Motivation then becomes the fuel that moves us. Knowing where it comes from allows us to achieve great things.

What about you? What engine is motivating you?