Daniel Pink TED Video and Your Motivation Problems

Motivation is one of those great mysteries of the mind. Some have it, most want it, and a few just don't care. The chances are good that you want to increase your motivation in at least one or two areas of your life (I know I'm working on that!). But what is motivation? Where does it come from? Most importantly, how and what can we learn about motivation to make it actually improve our lives? In this Daniel Pink TED video we try to find out all of this, and learn a little about Pink's humorously bad time in law school.

Daniel Pink TED Video: Surprising Science of Motivation

Now, after watching this informational Daniel Pink TED lecture, are you using any If-then rewards for your own candle problems?

If you think you are, recall what was said. If the task utilizes even rudimentary cognitive ability or skill then the reward lowered performance. Challenge yourself today, and answer the following question. Are you making decisions based on unexamined assumptions?

The answer is to base your behavior on 3 areas of intrinsic motivation:

1. Autonomy – An urge to direct our own lives
2. Mastery – The desire to get better and better at something that matters
3. Purpose – A yearning to do what we do in service of something larger than ourselves

Now, Pink points out that this is for business, but it is just as valid for people and individuals. Here's a powerful Daniel Pink quote from the video:

"The so-called 20th century rewards such as financial payoffs do work but only in a surprisingly narrow set of circumstances! Unseen intrinsic drive is the real behavioral motivator."      Daniel Pink, TED speech

So what can we do with Daniel Pink's motivation information? Well, first of all we can examine what motivational tactics we are employing in our own lives, especially where we find our motivation is lacking or failing. For instance, even though you may want money (hence you get a job), once you have your basic needs met then you're almost certainly going to want more… but not more money. There are far more valuable things than money! Look to satisfy the 3 areas of Daniel Pink's intrinsic motivators:

1. Autonomy
2. Mastery
3. Purpose

I do hope you gain the value that is in this Daniel Pink video and use it to increase your own motivation! On a final note, challenge yourself!