What is Motivation??

   So what exactly is motivation? Well, according to Webster, motivation is:

1. * The reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.

   "escape can be a strong motivation for travel"

   synonyms:

   motive, motivating force, incentive, stimulus, stimulation, inspiration, inducement, incitement, spur, reason; informalcarrot "his motivation was financial * The general desire or willingness of someone to do something.

   
   

   What does the business dictionary have to say about motivation? It argues that - Motivation is the "...Internal and external factors that stimulate desire and energy in people to be continually interested and committed to a job, role or subject, or to make an effort to attain a goal.

   Motivation results from the interaction of both conscious and unconscious factors such as the (1) intensity of desire or need, (2) incentive or reward value of the goal, and (3) expectations of the individual and of his or her peers. These factors are the reasons one has for behaving a certain way. An example is a student that spends extra time studying for a test because he or she wants a better grade in the class."

   
   

   http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/motivation.html

   
   

   When I think of motivation, the first thing that comes to my mind is drive. What is it that drives us? What influences or persuades us to do a certain thing or go a certain place? Why do we, as human beings, act the way we do? The good, the bad, and the ugly - every action and reaction is forced by some type of motivating factor. No action is done without first the desire being implanted within us in some way, shape, or form.

   
   

   Holding a BS degree in Psychology, I was forced to study all about the five (5) psychological theories of motivation. My favorite was and always will be Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. It is, in my opinion, the one that best, and most accurately, explains the forces behind human behavior. The levels of the Hierarchy of Needs are as follows:

   
   

   
   

   1. Physiological – in order for a person to survive, these needs must be met. Food, water, and shelter are all necessities for survival. 

   2. Safety – a person must feel safe and secure both financially, professionally, and personally.
   

   3. Love/belonging –a person wants to be satisfied with family, friends, and significant other.

   4. Esteem – a person wants to feel respected, desired, appreciated, and confident.

   5. Self-actualization – the desire to reach your greatest, highest potential in all things.

   Maslow's hierarchy is so far-reaching and completely inclusive of so many aspects of life that make it more than relevant and beyond useful when searching for the reasons why people do what they do. It is safe to assume that every single individual can connect with at least 2 or more of the above levels of need. I truly believe that this is the best theory to apply.