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The 25 Hidden Motivators That Inspire, Influence and Arouse
A cheat sheet for marketers, writers and self-help enthusiasts
Eight years ago, my first copywriting mentor tasked me with an impossible goal. He wanted me to identify the sources of deep-rooted motivation.
He reasoned that if I could identify the top twenty, I would learn what motivates people. Armed with that knowledge, I could craft sales letters that appealed my audience’s hidden, unstated desires.
The results of that project proved invaluable. An understanding of what really motivates us yields multi-dimensional benefits.
- Marketing and copywriting — demonstrate how your solution fulfills their desire.
- Writing — stir emotions and inspire your readers to act.
- Personal — understand the real motivation behind surface cravings.
The twenty-five hidden motivators
The first item earned its top spot, but the rest are in no particular order.
1. Status
Much of life revolves around status — maintaining or increasing it. If status did not matter, we wouldn’t have $100,000 cars or $5,000 handbags. You can tell yourself you bought that fancy car because of…
