This is an awesome question. I feel that one of my biggest motivators is competition as well. The drive to continuously improve was fostered during my time in the military. I found that some parts of that were carried into my academic life where I was motivated by seeing my classmates answer complex questions. To keep up, I made a habit to watch videos and read the book early every morning before classes. One of the most important lessons I learned was the power of comprehension in the final goal. In other words, by understanding the end goal, I found myself much more motivated to get the job done. Out of curiosity, how does everyone personally stay motivated when working toward a long-term goal?
Like you, I feed off a spark—but for me that spark is impact clarity. I’m at my best when I can see a direct line between the task in front of me and the people it will help. Once that link clicks into focus, the late nights start feeling less like “work” and more like momentum.
One experience that crystallised this for me happened in a capstone design course last spring. My team was building a low-cost pressure-monitoring sleeve for post-stroke patients. Mid-semester we were stuck: parts delayed, code half-written, everyone juggling other classes. Our advisor reminded us that the local rehab centre had already pencilled the sleeve into their summer pilot—if we missed our deliverable, ten patients would lose six months of progress data.
That single conversation flipped a switch. I mapped each remaining task to the patient outcome it unlocked (“sensor calibration → accurate force feedback → safer therapy sessions”). We posted the map over our lab bench and started every stand-up by moving sticky notes from “blocks a patient” to “helps a patient.” Seeing tiles slide across the board lit up the team’s competitive side—only now we were competing with time, not each other. We delivered one week early, and the rehab therapists e-mailed us after the first trial: “Patient #3 finally completed a full repetition without pain.” That line is still taped above my desk.
For me, one of the strongest motivators has always been career advancement. I’m someone who thrives when I can see a clear path ahead—whether it’s gaining a new skill, taking on more responsibility, or earning a new opportunity. Knowing that the work I’m doing now can directly contribute to my future goals keeps me focused, especially when the tasks are challenging or repetitive.
I remember during a summer internship at a medical device company, I was assigned to a team working on product testing documentation. It wasn’t glamorous work, but I saw it as a chance to build trust with my manager and prove that I could handle more complex tasks. I asked questions, stayed late when needed, and made sure every detail was right. A few weeks later, I was brought into team meetings and even got to contribute to risk analysis for the product—something interns weren’t usually involved in. That moment really stuck with me.
This kind of motivation aligns with Theory Y, which we discussed in class. The theory suggests that people are naturally motivated when they feel their work is meaningful and contributes to their personal development. In my case, the opportunity to grow professionally and work toward long-term goals gave purpose to even the smallest tasks. When leaders recognize that and support it, I think teams can achieve a lot more.
My biggest personal motivator is personal growth. I'm inspired by the fact that there are lots of things that I don't yet know. When starting something new, I am excited to find out what I will learn from it. I always feel a sense of accomplishment when I feel like I have genuinely understood and learned something new. The more experiences and knowledge I gain, the less I feel like I know. That is one thing that has drawn me towards the fields of research and engineering. Being motivated by personal growth is also something that has helped me to maintain a positive outlook in my professional life; no matter if I fail or succeed at endeavors, I will always be able to say that I learned from them.
Many people have different kinds of motivators. It was very interesting and uplifting to read what motivates different people. As is demonstrated in human history, and a very funny television series, the three great motivators for humans are money, fear, and hunger. At the core of most people's answers, including myself, are one of those three motivators. People fear being looked down upon or not being as intelligent or achieving as others. Most of us study engineering and pursue careers in the industry so we can have jobs, which entails money. When we get the job, we want to work hard so we can get raises and promotions. One may say, where does hunger fit in these scenarios? Well, hunger can be seen as literal or figurative. One can hungry for literal food, which can be grouped with the money motivator. Perhaps, one can hunger because he is need of something, such as recognition, fame, or status.
Like many others, one of the things that motivates me is the desire to create something meaningful. I want to be a part of something that has a true positive impact on the lives and well-beings of people every day. This has always fueled my desire for education and the field I work in. The end goal for me is to be in R&D for a tissue engineering, pharmaceutical, or medical device company and develop a product with a true impact. Currently, I have a job working for a pharmaceutical company involving CAR-T therapy, and it has only cemented that motivation within me. Being part of developing life-saving cancer treatments every day makes the work I do feel all the more significant and worth it.
