Here's something most people don't realize about motivation... all motivations are not created equal.
One motivation may get you started or cause you to raise your hand to get involved in an activity.
But it's usually a different motivation altogether that keeps you going in the middle of that activity — particularly when things get tough.
And finally, when you've finished an activity — something you feel great about accomplishing — there's a different motivation still that describes what made it all worthwhile.
Prompt ➔ Process ➔ Payoff
Certain motivations get you started. We call those prompts.
Different motivations keep you going. Those are process motivations.
And still others kick in at the end when you have that deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment from doing something meaningful. That's a payoff motivation.
A helpful metaphor
Imagine you’re a runner. (That’s easier for some people to imagine than others.) As someone with an on-again-off-again relationship with running, this example hits close to home. And yes, that's me in the photo, running in the middle of a proper Texas downpour.
Think about the moment when you wake up, roll out of bed, and lace up your running shoes. In that moment, there’s a certain motivation at play. Maybe it's about improving your health or proving something to yourself. Whatever it is for you, it's literally what gets you out of bed in the morning.
But fast-forward to the middle of the run, when your legs feel like they're filled with lead, you’re tired, breathing heavily, and wondering whether to finish or just go home early. What keeps you going in that moment? Maybe it's your need to push through challenges or systematically work toward a goal. Whatever it is, it's likely a different motivation than the one that got you out of bed in the first place.
And finally, imagine how good it feels when you're back home, kicking off those shoes, and enjoying that well-deserved runner's high? That sense of personal satisfaction and accomplishment is another thing altogether. Maybe it's the pride and sense of fulfillment that comes from meeting the challenge, or the feeling that you've made progress and learned something new about yourself.
That’s what we mean when we talk about prompt, process, and payoff motivations. It’s how your top motivations come together to create your unique motivational pattern, which we call a Motivational Flow.
Motivational Flow
Motivational Flow describes the unique way you approach things in your life. It's made up of the motivations that get you started, keep you engaged, and make it all worthwhile in the end.
To help you determine your unique Prompt, Process, and Payoff, complete these three fill-in-the-blank statements:
- Prompt: “I don’t usually get involved unless I can ____________.”
- Process: “I love getting to ____________.”
- Payoff: “At the end of the day, the big win for me is ____________.”
If you were to put all three of those motivations together in an easy-to-remember sentence, it might read something like this:
“I'm motivated to meet the challenge (prompt) as I overcome (process) because what I want most is to excel (payoff).”
Someone else's might be, “I'm motivated to explore as I improve, because what I want most is to experience the ideal.”
Your unique Motivational Flow Statement describes what “flow state” looks like for you — those moments when you’re so immersed in an activity that time just seems to fly by. You feel extremely focused, but also fully engaged and so caught up in the activity that it feels effortless. Like you could do it all day.
Putting your Motivational Flow to work
When you understand your unique Motivational Flow, you'll instantly recognize why some activities energize you from start to finish. And why others feel like a constant struggle.
You can also use it as a litmus test for whether or not to take on a certain projects. Does the project align with your Motivational Flow? Does it include all three of your motivations: Prompt, Process, and Payoff? If not, maybe you should pass on that project, or delegate it to someone else who's better aligned with that project.
It's not just about knowing what motivates you. It's about understanding how your motivations work together in sequence — in a pattern that's unlike anyone else on the planet.
Oh, and if were wondering, my personal Motivational Flow Statement is:
“I’m motivated to meet the needs of others by deeply understanding and then sharing life-changing insights, because what I want most is to positively impact people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.”
Want some help understanding your own Motivational Flow? Let's have a conversation about the things that get you started, keep you going, and what makes it all worth it.
Okay, your turn... what would it take for you to go for a run during a rainstorm like this crazy guy?