--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While the things that motivate us differ…" description: "\"While the things that motivate us differ greatly from one person to the next, the outcomes do not.\" — Tom Rath" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/tom-rath-3501_differ_while-the-things-that-motivate-us-differ_2805246.png" --- # While the things that motivate us differ greatly from one… ![“While the things that motivate us differ greatly from one person to the next, the outcomes do not.” quote by Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/tom-rath-3501_differ_while-the-things-that-motivate-us-differ_2805246.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/tom-rath-3501_differ_while-the-things-that-motivate-us-differ_2805246.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/tom-rath-3501_differ_while-the-things-that-motivate-us-differ_2805246.png) > “While the things that motivate us differ greatly from one person to the next, the outcomes do not.” [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People have different motivations, yet they often achieve similar results, highlighting universal drivers of success. **In simple terms:** Different motives, similar outcomes. Key Takeaway Focus on shared goals despite varied motives. Themes motivation success psychology Mood analytical encouraging Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - team projects - personal development - leadership training Key Concepts intrinsic vs extrinsic goal alignment Questions to Reflect On - What common results do you see across teams? - How can you align diverse motivations? A Different Perspective Ignoring personal drivers can reduce engagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Differ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differ/) [Differ Greatly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differ-greatly-3479173/) [Greatly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatly/) [Motivate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivate/) [Motivate Differ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivate-differ-3479172/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Outcomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outcomes/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Person Outcomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-outcomes-3479174/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things Motivate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-motivate-496005/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [While](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/while/) ## Related quotes > [Society is not homogeneous, and those who do not deliberately close their eyes have to recognize that men differ greatly from one another from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/society-is-not-homogeneous-and-those-who-do-not-deliberately-close/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) > [The right choices over time greatly improve your odds of a long and healthy life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-right-choices-over-time-greatly-improve-your-odds-of-a-long-and/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Demotivation makes you find new things to motivate yourself, things that can open new paths for you, good things. Motivation makes you create beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-a/demotivation-makes-you-find-new-things-to-motivate-yourself-things/) [Carlos A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-a/) > [Civil war, now, 100 years in the future - the things that motivate human beings, they don't change emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-azzarello/civil-war-now-100-years-in-the-future-the-things-that-motivate-human/) [Brian Azzarello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-azzarello/) > [“You can't worry about what other people think you should do. The only way you'll ever be happy or make a real difference is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-bate/you-can-t-worry-about-what-other-people-think-you-should-do-the-only/) [Dana Bate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-bate/) > [There is definitely little things that motivate you every year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-flacco/there-is-definitely-little-things-that-motivate-you-every-year/) [Joe Flacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-flacco/) > [If a footballer is well motivated and has various things to motivate him every day, he will keep achieving his goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-sanchez/if-a-footballer-is-well-motivated-and-has-various-things-to-motivate/) [Alexis Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-sanchez/) > [“Scientists who study human motivation have lately learned that after basic survival needs have been met, the combination of autonomy (the desire to direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-kotler/scientists-who-study-human-motivation-have-lately-learned-that-after/) [Steven Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-kotler/) > [I'm slowly becoming a convert to the principle that you can't motivate people to do things, you can only de-motivate them. The primary job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/i-m-slowly-becoming-a-convert-to-the-principle-that-you-can-t-2/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Locate things that motivate you and surround yourself with people that inspire you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/locate-things-that-motivate-you-and-surround-yourself-with-people/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [The things that motivate human beings, they don't change, emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-azzarello/the-things-that-motivate-human-beings-they-don-t-change-emotionally/) [Brian Azzarello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-azzarello/) > [I just want to talk about the things that motivate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-homie-quan/i-just-want-to-talk-about-the-things-that-motivate-me/) [Rich Homie Quan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-homie-quan/) > [Lots of things motivate me: my coworkers motivate me to work harder and always strive to be a better artist. My dad motivates me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-von-d/lots-of-things-motivate-me-my-coworkers-motivate-me-to-work-harder/) [Kat Von D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-von-d/) > [“The only two things that motivate me and that matter to me are revenge and guilt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/the-only-two-things-that-motivate-me-and-that-matter-to-me-are/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [The three things that motivate creative people - autonomy, mastery, purpose!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-three-things-that-motivate-creative-people-autonomy-mastery/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) ## More by Tom Rath > [Every day, I read about new ideas and research that could help someone I care about live a longer and healthier life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/every-day-i-read-about-new-ideas-and-research-that-could-help-someone/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I've seen people be effective, even among local teams, by offering something that improves wellbeing in a small way - people who get passionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-ve-seen-people-be-effective-even-among-local-teams-by-offering/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [“What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right strength at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-that-each-truly-knows-his-or-her/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [If you want people to understand that you value their contributions and that they are important, the recognition and praise you provide must have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/if-you-want-people-to-understand-that-you-value-their-contributions/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [On average, spending time with your boss is consistently rated as the least pleasurable activity in a given day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/on-average-spending-time-with-your-boss-is-consistently-rated-as-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [“Once your brain initially processes something, you are less likely to retain the information if you are not physically active in the period following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/once-your-brain-initially-processes-something-you-are-less-likely-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I would absolutely recommend against excessive positivity and optimism. Any positive emotion that you're infusing into a workplace needs to be grounded in reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-would-absolutely-recommend-against-excessive-positivity-and/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [The vast knowledge we have to prevent cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses is staggering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-vast-knowledge-we-have-to-prevent-cancer-heart-disease-and-other/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Positive defaults protect you from yourself - and that helps you to make decisions in the moment that are better for your long-term interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/positive-defaults-protect-you-from-yourself-and-that-helps-you-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Making better choices takes work. There is a daily give and take, but it is worth the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/making-better-choices-takes-work-there-is-a-daily-give-and-take-but/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Having fewer unhealthy days and, in turn, more days when you have the energy to get things done is probably the global constant through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/having-fewer-unhealthy-days-and-in-turn-more-days-when-you-have-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Even if people just change two or three things that they are able to sustain over time, it makes quite a difference eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/even-if-people-just-change-two-or-three-things-that-they-are-able-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [People with high levels of wellbeing have been careful to work out early in the morning and not to have heavy meals throughout the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/people-with-high-levels-of-wellbeing-have-been-careful-to-work-out/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [The absence of high-quality friendships is bad for your health, spirits, productivity, and longevity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-absence-of-high-quality-friendships-is-bad-for-your-health/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I'm a researcher, so I'm realistic that there's nothing I'm doing that's going to prevent me from getting cancer in the future. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-m-a-researcher-so-i-m-realistic-that-there-s-nothing-i-m-doing-that/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) [Explore all 129 Tom Rath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) ## More Differ quotes > [Reasonable people can differ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/reasonable-people-can-differ/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverb/) > [What do Obama and God have in common? Neither has a birth certificate. How do they differ? God does not think he's Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/what-do-obama-and-god-have-in-common-neither-has-a-birth-certificate/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ We differ \[with Frank Moore Cross\] simply because of our differing backgrounds. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hershel-shanks/we-differ-with-frank-moore-cross-simply-because-of-our-differing/) [Hershel Shanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hershel-shanks/) > [At every moment of our lives we should be trying to find out, not in what we differ with other people, but in what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/at-every-moment-of-our-lives-we-should-be-trying-to-find-out-not-in/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Because of the revolution of the Earth upon its axis, a new degree of the zodiac rises every four minutes, and thus even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-heindel/because-of-the-revolution-of-the-earth-upon-its-axis-a-new-degree-of/) [Max Heindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-heindel/) > [The best friends in the world may differ sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-best-friends-in-the-world-may-differ-sometimes/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Savages we call them because their manners differ from ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/savages-we-call-them-because-their-manners-differ-from-ours/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [As our self-interests differ, so do our feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/as-our-self-interests-differ-so-do-our-feelings/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [It is natural that people should differ most, and most violently, about the unknowable . . . There is all the room in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-haldeman-julius/it-is-natural-that-people-should-differ-most-and-most-violently-about/) [E. Haldeman-Julius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-haldeman-julius/) > [It is obvious, moreover, that the formation of price in capitalist society must differ from the formation of price in social conditions based upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-hiferding/it-is-obvious-moreover-that-the-formation-of-price-in-capitalist/) [Rudolf Hiferding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-hiferding/) > [We love and lose in China, we weep on England's moors, and laugh and moan in Guinea, and thrive on Spanish shores. We seek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/we-love-and-lose-in-china-we-weep-on-england-s-moors-and-laugh-and/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'd love to say fashion faux pas differ from country to country, but they don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinny-woodall/i-d-love-to-say-fashion-faux-pas-differ-from-country-to-country-but/) [Trinny Woodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinny-woodall/) > [“Dare to Differ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-goldfinger/dare-to-differ/) [Matthew Goldfinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-goldfinger/) > [The specific steps for changing a specific habit differ from person to person and habit to habit, but the steps - the formula -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/the-specific-steps-for-changing-a-specific-habit-differ-from-person/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [We must preserve our right to think and differ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/we-must-preserve-our-right-to-think-and-differ/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) [Browse all 101 Differ quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differ/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "While the things that motivate us differ greatly from one person to the next, the outcomes do not.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Rath" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/while-the-things-that-motivate-us-differ-greatly-from-one-person-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Differ" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/while-the-things-that-motivate-us-differ-greatly-from-one-person-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/tom-rath-3501_differ_while-the-things-that-motivate-us-differ_2805246.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/tom-rath-3501_differ_while-the-things-that-motivate-us-differ_2805246.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/tom-rath-3501_differ_while-the-things-that-motivate-us-differ_2805246.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“While the things that motivate us differ greatly from one person to the next, the outcomes do not.” — Tom Rath", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tom Rath", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "While the things that motivate us...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/while-the-things-that-motivate-us-differ-greatly-from-one-person-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/while-the-things-that-motivate-us-differ-greatly-from-one-person-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```