Motivated Personality: 9 Traits of Self-Motivated People

Do you have dreams of owning a successful business? Take a look at how many of these 9 traits of a motivated personality you have. These characteristics of a driven person help influence whether or not you will be a successful entrepreneur. It has often been said that motivation, drive, and persistence are more important factors in success than talent or intelligence. I’ll also share my favorite motivated person quotes to inspire you to take action today!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Self-Motivated Personality and Success

Do you want to achieve your goals and dreams? If so, then you need to learn how to be motivated.

Motivation is the crucial ingredient in achieving anything worthwhile. It’s what gets us out of bed in the morning and keeps us going when times are tough.

In this blog post, we will discuss nine specific personality traits of highly motivated people so that you can model their behavior in your own life.

If you aren’t naturally motivated (not all of us have intrinsic motivation), you’ll learn 5 strategies to increase your own motivated personality traits.

What is a Motivated Personality?

A motivated personality is someone who consistently demonstrates a strong drive, enthusiasm, and determination to achieve their goals.

They are people who are proactive, take initiative, and are willing to put in the effort and hard work required to accomplish tasks.

Motivated people often have a clear sense of purpose or passion that fuels their actions, and they are resilient in the face of challenges or setbacks.

They are goal-oriented, focused, and exhibit a positive attitude that inspires not only themselves but also those around them.

The driving force of someone with a motivated personality is an inner sense of purpose without the need for extrinsic motivation or external rewards.

Not that motivated people don’t like these things; it’s just that they don’t need them to get started or reach goals.

Abraham Maslow’s Theory of Motivation

Abraham Maslow’s theory of motivation is like a ladder explaining why people act the way they do.

He believed that human behavior is driven by different needs, with five main types of motivation.

At the bottom of the ladder of human motivation are our basic needs, also known as “psychological needs.” These are the things we must have to survive and be okay, like food, water, and a place to sleep.

As these needs are met, we climb up to safety, social connections, self-esteem, and finally, self-actualization – becoming the best version of ourselves.

Maslow’s idea is that as we satisfy each level of needs, we develop a motivated personality, driven by a desire for growth and fulfillment.

Characteristics of a Motivated Person

There are many traits to look for when evaluating someone’s motivation level.

High achievers tend to have these three common character traits:

focusing on the positive
enjoying challenges and uncertainty
and believing in themselves.

People with a motivated personality often find ways to get things done efficiently without being distracted by negative thoughts or emotions such as fear or anger. They have a strong sense of self-worth, which allows them to stay confident even in the face of adversity.

Motivation is vital when pursuing any goal or dream. Motivation allows us to set goals and achieve them because we know what we want. It allows us to persevere when times get tough. We know that the result is worth all the effort.

Having a motivated personality can help you maintain focus and energy for an extended period of time, ultimately leading to success.

So what exactly are the traits of a highly motivated person?

You may notice some similarities between yourself and those who have achieved great things in life.

These traits include being driven, passionate about their work (and life). In other words, having self-beliefs that are positive rather than negative.

They believe that nothing can stop them from achieving their goals or dreams when they set their mind to it, regardless of any obstacles which might stand in their way.

People with a motivated personality enjoy challenges and uncertainty as a part of life’s journey rather than an obstacle to be overcome.

Let’s dive right into the nine traits of people with a highly motivated personality. See how many of these traits you have:

Motivated Personality Trait #1: Motivated People Are Driven

They have a desire to achieve something great or do better at what they’re already doing. This gets them up in the morning and keeps them going in the face of a challenge.

To grow your business, you need the drive to move forward. Otherwise it is easy to stay complacent in your life or in your business and be in the same place 10 years from now.

Motivated Personality Trait #2: Motivated People Are Passionate About Their Work

They don’t just do a job to make money; they’re passionate about what they do and enjoy it. This passion often translates into great success because they’re always looking for new ways to improve and get better at their craft.

My coaching clients are often not motivated by money; they are motivated by wanting to make a difference in people’s lives. Their drive and passion ends up translating into making more money, but this is not their central motivating factor.

Motivated Personality Trait #3: Motivated People Have Positive Self-Beliefs

They don’t let negative thoughts or emotions like fear or anger get in their way. There will be times when you doubt your own business. There will also be times when people in your life don’t support you.

Successful people focus on the positives overall and believe in themselves no matter what. This allows them to maintain confidence even during tough times.

Motivated Personality Trait #4: Motivated People Enjoy Challenges and Uncertainty

They see these as a part of life’s journey, something to be embraced and enjoyed.

Rather than an obstacle that needs to be overcome, they view challenges and uncertainty to help them learn and grow.

Motivated Personality Trait #5: Motivated People Believe in Themselves

They know that anything is possible if they set their mind to it. This self-belief allows them to persevere and achieve their goals.

People that succeed in entrepreneurship are often no smarter or more educated than people who don’t. But people who believe in themselves will take setbacks in stride, and not as failure. They will learn, and keep going.

Motivated Personality Trait #6: Motivated People Are Driven to Go Above and Beyond

They want to achieve something great or do better at what they’re already doing.

This desire often leads them to succeed because they’re always looking for ways to improve themselves and improve their businesses.

There is a burning desire to become difference makers in the world.

Motivated Personality Trait #7: Motivated People Maintain Their Focus and Energy

They don’t get easily distracted or discouraged by setbacks. Instead, they focus on what matters most.

Highly motivated people maintain their energy levels to achieve success in whatever it is that motivates them!

Motivated Personality Trait #8: Motivated People Are Goal-Oriented

They know what they want and are always looking to achieve their goals.

Successful entrepreneurs know the importance of goal setting to achieving goals. This allows these successful entrepreneurs to stay on track despite any distractions or obstacles that might come their way.

Motivated Personality Trait #9: Motivated People Have High Energy

Motivated people are always ready to take on whatever challenges come their way. They have the energy, creativity, and tenacity needed for them to succeed and thrive!

Tips for People Without a Naturally Motivated Personality

What if you aren’t a naturally motivated person?

So what happens if you read this article, and see that you only have one or two of the motivated personality traits listed above?

The first thing is not to be hard on yourself for this.

there are different types of people, and we all have different levels of intrinsic motivation. This has a big part to do with dopamine (if you like neurotransmitters like I do, you can read more about that here).

If you’re not a naturally motivated person, the good news is there are things you can do. Behavior change is possible with strong desire and consistent action.

You might never have the motivation levels of Oprah, but none of us really are. Here’s what you can do:

Hack the system you have with these tips to boost your motivation:

1. Do your hardest tasks first thing in the morning.

Dopamine (aka the motivation neurotransmitter) was found to be highest at 7am in this study.

Use this to your advantage and work on your mentally hardest tasks first, or the tasks you find boring (which naturally require more motivation).

2. Break down any goal into tiny steps.

A large goal should be broken down into actionable goals.

The smaller the steps, the better.

When you complete a step, your brain will signal a reward feeling – “wahoo, I am awesome!”

This is a good feeling, and will give you that boost to work on the next step to reach your goal.

3. Set a timer.

If there is a task in your business you are having trouble starting, set a timer for 5 minutes.

We can do anything for 5 minutes. Bypass your inner excuses or complaints (it’s too hard, too boring, etc.) and work on it for 5 minutes.

With motivation, the hardest part is often getting started. Once you have been working for 5 minutes, you’ll often find that you can keep going.

4. Move your body.

If you are struggling with motivation to write, or you are procrastinating with making a sales call, move away from your desk.

Go for a walk around the block, do some push-ups or jumping jacks.

We have a small trampoline in our house, and I will go over to that and jump on it for a few minutes. It doesn’t matter what you do, just choose some way to move.

Physically moving your body will help move the stuck energy you have when you’re feeling low on motivation.

You will have an easier time going back to your work, and will feel fresher and with higher motivation.

5. Be aware of diminishing returns.

While you do want to encourage yourself and do some gentle pushing, don’t push it past the point where you are making fruitful gains. This leads to discouragement and will deplete your motivation.

At a certain time of the evening, my creative brain shuts off. Sometimes I really want to finish an article; I might have only about a page more to write. But if that creative brain is done for the day, it’s done.

I have tried pushing it, but each sentence I try to crank out feels painful.

This will not feel like flow, it will feel like pushing a rock uphill. Know when your brain is truly done for the day, and not just in need of encouragement.

Science-Based Exercises for People with Low Motivation

if you’re feeling a bit low on motivation and need a boost, here are some science-backed exercises you can try:

Set Small Goals: Start with tiny, achievable tasks. Crossing things off your to-do list, no matter how small, releases dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter.
Visualize Success: Take a few moments each day to picture yourself reaching your goals. Visualization can trick your brain into feeling the satisfaction of success, motivating you to take action.
Build a Routine: Establishing a daily routine creates a sense of structure and stability. This helps reduce stress and makes it easier to tackle tasks, boosting your overall motivation.
Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge and celebrate even the smallest achievements. Positive reinforcement reinforces the connection between effort and reward, encouraging you to keep going.
Connect with Others: Surround yourself with supportive people. Social connections release oxytocin, a hormone that fosters trust and bonding, making you feel more motivated and optimistic.
Exercise Regularly: Physical activity has a direct impact on mood and motivation. It releases endorphins, which act as natural mood lifters, helping to combat feelings of lethargy.
Learn Something New: Engage your brain with new challenges. Learning stimulates the release of dopamine, enhancing your sense of accomplishment and motivation.
Practice Gratitude: Take a moment each day to reflect on what you’re grateful for. Gratitude has been linked to increased motivation and a more positive outlook on life.

Building a motivated personality is a gradual process, and it’s okay to take small steps.

Consistency is key, so be patient with yourself and celebrate every step forward!

Motivated Person Quotes

To get you inspired, here are a few favorite motivational quotes, and links to read more of them:

“Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher”
Oprah Winfrey

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.”
Michael Jordan

“Greatness is hearing your truth and speaking it no matter how your voice shakes.”
Mel Robbins

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
Maya Angelou

“If you are not willing to risk the usual you will have to settle for the ordinary.”
Jim Rohn

Read these posts for more motivational quotes:

Grab this FREE journal with 10 fill-in-the-blank questions to get clarity on your mindset for business success. Get it NOW:

???