What motivates you? (Guess what, we're not all motivated by the same thing)

What motivates you?  What drives you to do what you love to do--assuming you already know what that is.

Let's take an athelete.  Is it to win a high school tournament, whether it's regionals or the state title?  Is it to go on to college and continue to play for the sport?  Is it to be a pro?

I grew up in a town in northern Minnesota that lives and breathes hockey.  There are a few professional players who have come from this town, and stories of one such player (who was on the 1980 Miracle team) who woke up in the wee-hours of the morning to go down to the ice rink and practice.  Most mornings he was down there by himself.

Nowadays, this same town has practices very early in the morning.  I'm sure if you asked the kids, they wouldn't mind sleeping in.  But the parents remember the story of the Miracle hockey player and want their children to skate in his same steps.  Nevermind that hardly none of them will ever be able to skate on a professional team.  What motivates the kids isn't the same thing that motivates the parents.

Why not just let them play for the fun of it?

Now let's take writers.  What drives them?

Is it to be published by a traditional, Big 5 Publisher?  Is it to have their story made into a movie?  Is it to win an award (like the Hugo)?

It could even be to have a stack of papers sitting on your desk, just as a conversation piece.

Why are you doing what you love to do?

Here's a hint: it's not all about money.  If it was, I'm sure we'd all be stock brokers or major in economics.

What motivates police officers to deal with the shit the public deals with them, day-in and day-out?

What motivates teachers to do what they love to do, even under tight government restrictions?

What motivates a med student to keep studying, counting the days until they too can wear a white jacket and be called "Doctor"?

Search for it.  It's in yourself.  Then, once you find it, go forth and conquer.

The world needs you.