The book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us is about the importance of intrinsic motivation. The foundation of the book is that there are three levels of human motivation:

1. Basic needs – survival, food, sex, etc.
2. External rewards and punishment
3. Internal interest and purpose

In my experience with strategizing and managing online communities, the goal of getting users to register proves much easier to obtain than getting people to come back to the site and participate. I think a slick site design and promising benefits can easily pull a user in to register because there is no commitment for them to get involved. So how do we get registered users to participate in online communities without forcing a commitment? I don’t think there is a magic formula.

Every morning when you wake up there is a routine that you have become accustomed too. Alarm goes off, you hit the snooze, alarm goes off again, you hit the snooze a little harder this time, then again and harder the alarm clock gets hit till finally you grunt, groan and finally get out of bed and in to the shower..off to work, stop for coffee, wake up some more and then maybe muster up enough energy to start working on your emails or phone calls. ugggggghhhh.... well this may not be your personal routine but its what a lot of people do in one way or another to get their day started.

"Great leaders go forward without stopping, remain firm without tiring, and remain enthusiastic while growing." Reed Markham, American Educator

Sometimes I come across these quotes which will change the way I look at the day. I may scribble it down on my notepad and forget about it when I turn the page the next day. I like this one because it is simple and straightforward. No frills, no bullshit. It's honest. Without discipline you have nothing. Without drive you have nothing. What drives you?

Is it not the challenge that keeps your mind sharp and refreshed?

Without the challenge, wouldn't your mind essentially become empty and aloof --stagnant and careless of the world around you?

Without the challenge, wouldn't your life be nothing more than what you already know?

It is the challenge that is the fire.

The shadow in front of you will be the one you begin to know and take form of, give names to, and define.

The shadow will guide you, reward you, and soon you will no longer be defining the shadow, but it will be defining you.