Something You Should Know Bonus: SYSK TRENDING - Finding Your Motivation
Feb 3, 2026
Daniel Pink, author and speaker on work and human behavior, explains what really drives motivation. He discusses why autonomy, mastery, and purpose matter. He shares practical stories and small steps organizations and individuals can use to spark creativity and sustain effort. The conversation highlights research that challenges reward-and-punishment approaches.
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Why Carrots And Sticks Often Fail
- Carrots-and-sticks work in a narrow band and often backfire for creative tasks.
- Autonomy, mastery, and purpose drive higher performance in complex work.
Atlassian's 24-Hour Innovation Sprint
- Atlassian runs quarterly 'FedEx days' letting developers work on anything for 24 hours.
- Those sprints produced product ideas, upgrades, and fixes that wouldn't have surfaced otherwise.
Pay Enough, Then Prioritize Intrinsic Drivers
- Pay people enough, then external contingent rewards matter far less for high performance.
- Freedom, progress toward mastery, and purpose become the primary drivers of sustained high performance.
