The Motivation Code

August 31, 2020
Henry (Die Empty), host of The Accidental Creative podcast, teams with management consultant Penner, clinical psychologist Hall, and nutritionist Miller to crack the code on how one functions—both mentally and physically—in this illuminating guide. Henry became interested in the concept that “each individual has a unique blend of motivations that drive behavior and a sense of engagement” after taking a test designed by Penner, and the authors recommend readers take the 30-minute online assessment themselves. They then walk readers through understanding the skills and deficiencies described in their assessment-test, interpreting one’s “motivation codes,” and strategies for activating one’s unique set of attributes. With 27 different “motivational themes” divided into six “motivational families”—visionary, achiever, team player, learner, optimizer, and key contributor—Henry charts the pros and cons of each personality type. For instance, a visionary wants to achieve potential and ideals, but also needs to be grounded and concentrate on concrete steps. An optimizer concentrates on making things right and craves organization, but needs to concentrate on working with others and accepting nuance. In the vein of the Myers-Briggs personality tests, these clever structures will help readers more fully understand their own idiosyncrasies.