For those of you who enjoyed Daniel Pink’s book, A Whole New Mind, I want to enthusiastically recommend his newest book, Drive, The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.

I’m guessing that it won’t really be too surprising” for many of you to learn that it is the intrinsic value of an activity itself that actually motivates us to high levels of productivity, creativity and accomplishment. Contrary to popular opinion, it is NOT the promise of money and benefits or the threat of punishment that gets us moving.

Unfortunately, most companies still operate on the carrot and the stick principle to raise productivity and profits. But Pink says that this action actually shuts down our internal drive over time, especially in fields where creativity and original thought are needed.

“Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined and connected to one another,” he says. The most successful people are the ones who are self-directed and devoted to becoming better and better at something that matters. In other words, the highest levels of success and satisfaction come with connecting the quest for excellence to a larger purpose, a purpose that is bigger than ourselves and designed for the well-being of all.