Episode 8: Bonus Session -To Be Pulled or to Be Pushed: The Power of Intrinsic Motivation Artwork

Ben Benson Performance Capability Network

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Ben Benson Performance Capability Network

Episode 8: Bonus Session -To Be Pulled or to Be Pushed: The Power of Intrinsic Motivation

February 14, 2025 • Ben Benson

Success is often measured by applause, trophies, contracts, and public recognition. Many believe that these external markers define their worth, fueling their drive and validating their efforts. But here’s the uncomfortable truth—external validation is a fleeting force. It is unreliable, conditional, and, at its core, a trap.

When your motivation is tied to the approval of others, you are not in control of your own drive. You push forward only as long as the rewards remain, but when they disappear, so does your purpose. This is the plight of those who live for external validation—they are bound by recognition, and without it, their passion fades.

True strength does not come from applause. It comes from within. It is self-sustaining, unshaken by the absence of praise or rewards. The most powerful individuals are not moved by external forces; they are pulled forward by an internal fire that refuses to dim.

In this bonus session, we explore a component of the Performance Capability Trisphereon—a framework that distinguishes those who are transactional, those who are transformational, and those who transcend. We will break down the difference between external and internal motivation, revealing why only those with an unshakable foundation can withstand the test of time.