--- title: "Book of the Month: Drive" description: "Book of the Month: Drive" --- [Book of the Month](https://blog.keyser.com/topic/book-of-the-month) # Book of the Month: Drive [By Jonathan Keyser](https://blog.keyser.com/author/jonathan-keyser) September 09, 2014 - [** ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url={url}&text={title}) - [** ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url={url}&title={title}) - [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u={url}) ![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png) ***[Drive](http://www.danpink.com/books/drive) *by Daniel Pink** Daniel Pink’s Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us is one of those books that has us wondering when current management techniques are going to wake up to modern reality. According to Pink (and years of scientific research) autonomy, mastery and purpose, not external rewards, is what motivates. After receiving a book recommendation from a former colleague, I picked up a copy of the 2011 paperback version and couldn’t put it down. As one who has had the responsibility of motivating employees, students, and my own kids, Pink made it clear that some type of work just can’t be effectively managed with the old carrots and sticks approach. What seemed so straight forward for years – that rewards like money or good grades and punishment like fines or shame would shape behavior in the desired direction – is just dead wrong. Check out pages 50-51 where day-care parents actually increased their tardy behavior when issued a punitive fine for late arrival, or page 45 where women in Gothenburg, Sweden “donated” less blood when they were paid to do so. Pink claims that a few mundane tasks may still benefit from such incentives but for creative ones, incentives can have a limiting effect. So, while money and shame don’t actually motive like we thought they would, apparently autonomy, mastery and purpose do. Autonomy, even if it is perceived control, Pink says, is an important component of one’s happiness. Mastery is a mindset. It’s one that chooses the tough, sometimes impossible challenge (like becoming a perfect golfer) yet sticks with it day after day. I saw this in students who, with simple grit and determination just kept trying until they eventually surpassed their “gifted” peers academically. Finally, purpose as a motivator seems intuitive, yet I would suggest that Pink does a good job of pointing to the “intrinsic aspirations” component of this factor – that is, feeling better by helping others improve their lives. Pink shares that “people who’d had purpose goals and felt they were attaining them reported higher levels of satisfaction and subjective well-being.” For anyone who works with children, manages adults, or just wants to retire that old carrot and stick, Pink’s *Drive* is a must-read! [All posts](https://blog.keyser.com) [Jonathan Keyser](https://blog.keyser.com/author/jonathan-keyser) Jonathan Keyser is the Founder and Managing Partner of Keyser Commercial Real Estate, which has become the largest commercial real estate firm of its kind in Arizona. Jonathan is also a Founding Partner of Exis Global, which today has over 580 people worldwide exclusively representing occupiers of commercial real estate. He is also the founder of a small investment fund that invests in emerging technology companies within Arizona, supporting and helping to grow the state's startup ecosystem. Jonathan was named “The Commercial Real Estate Disruptor” by USA Today. He is a #1 Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author, for his book, “You Don’t Have to be Ruthless to Win”. Jonathan is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, is widely recognized as a thought leader, has been featured in hundreds of articles, publications, and podcasts, and has been named a “Top 20 Virtual Keynote Speaker” nationally. As an entrepreneur, Jonathan has built Keyser into an eight-figure firm, which was named one of the Top 50 Most Trustworthy Companies in America by The Silicon Review. Jonathan is also one of the most connected business leaders in Arizona. He is an active member of Greater Phoenix Leadership, Young Presidents Organization (YPO), Chief Executive Organization (ceo), and the Million Dollar Speaking Group (MDSG) within the National Speakers Association (NSA). With almost 30 years of experience in the Commercial Real Estate Industry, Jonathan’s firm represents occupiers of space exclusively, both domestically and internationally across a broad range of industries. Jonathan is sought out by companies worldwide for his expertise in real estate and business acumen. He is particularly skilled at identifying creative strategies to align real estate with business requirements, designing and implementing unique solutions to complex real estate challenges, and resolving landlord-tenant conflicts where negotiations have deteriorated due to rising hostilities. Jonathan is happily married to his wife, Susanna, and has six children. His mission is to change the business community through selfless service, and his entire firm is built upon this philosophy. Jonathan is known throughout the business community as someone who loves to help others and who goes out of his way to be of service to people across the community. [** ](https://jonathankeyser.com/) [** ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathankeyser/) ##### You might also like ![Book of the Month: The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive](https://blog.keyser.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/blonde%20with%20short%20hairstyle%20%20and%20glasses%2c%20%20business%20woman%20on%20meeting%2c%20people%20group%20in%20background%20at%20modern%20bright%20office%20indoors.jpeg) [Book of the Month: The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive](https://blog.keyser.com/book-of-the-month-the-four-obsessions-of-an-extraordinary-executive) September 09, 2014 [Infographic: Best Leadership Books For 2015](https://blog.keyser.com/best-leadership-books-for-2015) September 09, 2014 [Book Of The Month: Getting Naked](https://blog.keyser.com/book-of-the-month-getting-naked) September 09, 2014 [![](https://keyser.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/cropped-LogoBug-RGB.png)](https://keyser.com/) **Designated Broker **Jonathan Keyser **License Number **KEYSER, LLC LC646225000 [**Privacy Policy**](https://keyser.com/commercial-real-estate/privacy-policy/) SERVICES [**Commercial Real Estate**](https://keyser.com/commercial-real-estate/) [**Business Advisory Services**](https://keyser.com/business-advisory-services/) ABOUT US [**Our Team**](https://keyser.com/our-team/) [**Our Culture**](https://keyser.com/selfless-service-culture/) [**Join The Team**](https://keyser.com/join-the-movement/) RESOURCE CENTER [**Blog**](https://blog.keyser.com/) [**Featured In**](https://keyser.com/featured-in/) LOCATIONS **Keyser World Headquarters **6400 E. McDowell Rd, Ste. 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85257 CONTACT **Business Inquiries **(602) 953.9737 [info@keyser.com](mailto:info@keyser.com) **Press + Media Inquiries **Olivia Garrett [ogarrett@keyser.com](mailto:ogarrett@keyser.com) ###### ![JK-book_300_-1](https://blog.keyser.com/hs-fs/hubfs/JK-book_300_-1.png?width=126&height=126&name=JK-book_300_-1.png) JONATHAN KEYSER [**Book a Speaking Engagement or Purchase the Book**](https://jonathankeyser.com/ruthless-book/) --- ###### Copyright © 2023 Keyser, LLC. All Rights Reserved.