Jason Fried

August 30, 2022

The longer

The longer you do something, the more you'll be asked "what keeps you motivated?"

People are typically looking for a goal-based answer. Or some big mission. Or some sort of target you just haven't hit yet. The question is often aimed at revealing a deep, purpose-filled motivation.

The assumption is that you're still doing it because you're still striving, still reaching. You haven't yet had the impact you wished for. You haven't changed x-number of lives. You haven't hit x-number in valuation. You haven't attracted the gaze of x-number of people, or a specific person who's already hit their x.

Which means they're typically bored by my answer.

What keeps me motivated is the doing itself.

I keep doing something because I like doing something.

I keep building and improving our products because I like improving our products.

I keep writing because I enjoy writing.

I keep pursuing an interest because the interest interests me.

I keep... because I like...

I can be that simple, and I'd argue it's best when it's just that.

-Jason

About Jason Fried

Hey! I'm Jason, the Co-Founder and CEO at 37signals, makers of Basecamp and HEY. Subscribe below to follow my thinking on business, design, product development, and whatever else is on my mind. Thanks for visiting, thanks for reading.