Striving Towards Excellence

-Karthik Gurumurthy

We’ve all stared at our to-do list feeling completely uninspired, yet we also know what it feels like to be excited about starting something. The difference lies in understanding two types of motivation.

Internal Motivation: When the Work IS the Reward

Internal motivation comes from within—you’re doing something you genuinely enjoy. Think about activities you love: playing guitar, cooking, gaming. You never procrastinate on these because the task itself is rewarding.

Signs of internal motivation:

• Easy concentration
• Natural desire to do your best
• You’d do it even without payment or recognition

To boost internal motivation, fill your to-do list with tasks you actually enjoy. Sometimes this means rethinking your career or lifestyle entirely. If your life is mostly unexciting tasks, how did you get there, and what can you change?

External Motivation: Powering Through for the Prize

External motivation comes from outside rewards—the paycheck, the degree, the clean house. You don’t love the process, but you want the outcome.

Signs of external motivation:

• Harder to concentrate, more tempting to procrastinate
• You aim for “good enough” rather than perfection
• You’d quit without the reward

Creating External Motivation:

• Promise yourself rewards (treats, “me time,” purchases)
• Focus on the finished result, not the process
• Find ways to get public recognition for completion

The key is recognizing which type drives you for different tasks and deliberately cultivating the right motivation for each situation. Most people need both types to stay productive and fulfilled.