--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only long-term motivation is self…" description: "\"The only long-term motivation is self motivation. So hire people who are self motivated and get out of their way.\" — Seth Godin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/seth-godin-152_long_the-only-long-term-motivation-is-self-mo_1159886.png" --- # The only long-term motivation is self motivation. So hire… ![“The only long-term motivation is self motivation. So hire people who are self motivated and get out of their way.” quote by Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/seth-godin-152_long_the-only-long-term-motivation-is-self-mo_1159886.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/seth-godin-152_long_the-only-long-term-motivation-is-self-mo_1159886.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/seth-godin-152_long_the-only-long-term-motivation-is-self-mo_1159886.png) > “The only long-term motivation is self motivation. So hire people who are self motivated and get out of their way.” [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sustainable motivation comes from within; external incentives fade, so empower autonomous people and avoid micromanagement. **In simple terms:** Self‑driven motivation lasts longer than external rewards. Key Takeaway Empower autonomy. Themes motivation leadership autonomy Mood inspirational pragmatic Type advice leadership When to use this quote - Hiring - team management - project leadership Key Concepts Self‑determination theory intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster self‑motivation in your team? - What tasks benefit from external incentives? A Different Perspective External rewards can still be useful for short‑term tasks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self motivated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-motivated/) [Self motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-motivation/) ## Related quotes > [All motivation is self-motivation. Your family, your boss, or your co-workers can try to get your engine going, but until you decide what to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/all-motivation-is-self-motivation-your-family-your-boss-or-your-co/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The best motivation is self-motivation. The guy says, I wish someone would come by and turn me on. What if they don't show up?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-best-motivation-is-self-motivation-the-guy-says-i-wish-someone/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [You are responsible for your own life.Why expect something to happen for motivation.Self motivation is biggest drive for motivation. Have faith in self motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/you-are-responsible-for-your-own-life-why-expect-something-to-happen/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Long-term, we must begin to build our internal strengths. It isn't just skills like computer technology. It's the old-fashioned basics of self-reliance, self-motivation, self-reinforcement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/long-term-we-must-begin-to-build-our-internal-strengths-it-isn-t-just/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“Be original and don’t be afraid to stand out. Never downplay your capabilities. Everybody won’t believe in you and everybody won’t rejoice with you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lahart/be-original-and-don-t-be-afraid-to-stand-out-never-downplay-your/) [Stephanie Lahart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lahart/) > [The best motivation you can have is self motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-mcdaniel/the-best-motivation-you-can-have-is-self-motivation/) [Tamara Mcdaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-mcdaniel/) > [The best motivation is self-motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-best-motivation-is-self-motivation/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [One of the things we know is that you cannot motivate other people, but you can remove the obstacles that stop them from motivating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-things-we-know-is-that-you-cannot-motivate-other-people/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You are responsible for your life. So why expect something to happen for motivation. Self motivation is biggest drive for self empowerment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/you-are-responsible-for-your-life-so-why-expect-something-to-happen/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) > [Self motivation gives positive vibe in life.Being self motivated gives you boost to stand in all adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/self-motivation-gives-positive-vibe-in-life-being-self-motivated/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [“Many self-motivated people have far more success in achieving their goals and building their self than many people who rely on others for motivation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeleke-aishat-tashia/many-self-motivated-people-have-far-more-success-in-achieving-their/) [Adeleke Aishat - Tashia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeleke-aishat-tashia/) > [When you want something desperately and you lose it, no matter how hard you try to get yourself motivated, it's always difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/when-you-want-something-desperately-and-you-lose-it-no-matter-how/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [I've always been self-motivated, but I can't take a ton of credit for any success I've had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/i-ve-always-been-self-motivated-but-i-can-t-take-a-ton-of-credit-for/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [“I’m very self-motivated,” she’d state with an assertiveness that she didn’t quite feel in her gut, and the HR guy would look down at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dexter-palmer/i-m-very-self-motivated-she-d-state-with-an-assertiveness-that-she/) [Dexter Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dexter-palmer/) > [“If you have the right people on the bus, they will be self-motivated. The real question then becomes: How do you manage in such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/if-you-have-the-right-people-on-the-bus-they-will-be-self-motivated/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) ## More by Seth Godin > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The easier it is to quantify, the less it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-easier-it-is-to-quantify-the-less-it-s-worth/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Developing expertise or assets that are not easily copied is essential; otherwise you're just a middleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/developing-expertise-or-assets-that-are-not-easily-copied-is/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Leadership is a choice. It's the choice not to do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/leadership-is-a-choice-it-s-the-choice-not-to-do-nothing/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The next thing you do today will be the most important thing on your agenda, because, after all, you're doing it next. Well, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-next-thing-you-do-today-will-be-the-most-important-thing-on-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I look at Starbucks, Howard Schultz has made many brilliant decisions, and one of the things that they did was they invented the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-look-at-starbucks-howard-schultz-has-made-many-brilliant-decisions/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Be relentlessly generous, without focusing on when it will come back to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/be-relentlessly-generous-without-focusing-on-when-it-will-come-back/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The public square is more public than ever, but minds are rarely changed in 140 character bursts and by selfies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-public-square-is-more-public-than-ever-but-minds-are-rarely/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Making an average pitch to average people, or having an average gala for average people isn't going to scale anymore. You've got to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/making-an-average-pitch-to-average-people-or-having-an-average-gala/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Our job is to make change. Our job is to connect to people, to interact with them in a way that leaves them better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/our-job-is-to-make-change-our-job-is-to-connect-to-people-to-interact/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“Life is actually far better than it is in the movies. And it takes longer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/life-is-actually-far-better-than-it-is-in-the-movies-and-it-takes/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I don't think there's a shortage of remarkable ideas. I think your business has plenty of great opportunities to do great things. Nope, what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-shortage-of-remarkable-ideas-i-think-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The mirror we hold up to the person next to us is one of the most important pictures she will ever see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-mirror-we-hold-up-to-the-person-next-to-us-is-one-of-the-most/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you're a marketer who doesn't know how to invent, design, influence, adapt, and ultimately discard products, then you're no longer a marketer. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-you-re-a-marketer-who-doesn-t-know-how-to-invent-design-influence/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) [Explore all 1,110 Seth Godin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## More Long quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [Contradictory precepts that have guided me for as long as I can remember: 1: I will live forever. 2: I will die tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/contradictory-precepts-that-have-guided-me-for-as-long-as-i-can/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [The real world out there isn't nearly as nice as some people prefer it to be, so don't swallow everything your high-born teachers tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-world-out-there-isn-t-nearly-as-nice-as-some-people-prefer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [Long before the 2016 presidential campaign, confidential sources had alerted me to longstanding misuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court system and the erosion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharyl-attkisson/long-before-the-2016-presidential-campaign-confidential-sources-had/) [Sharyl Attkisson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharyl-attkisson/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) Browse all 39,551 Long quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only long-term motivation is self motivation. 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