2 Questions To Unlock Motivation - Insights From a Motivational Speaker

Motive is the Root of Motivation: Lessons from Tony Robbins on Fulfilment

In Episode 217 of The James Altucher Show, Tony Robbins doesn’t just dish out advice—he reshapes the entire way we think about motivation. In a world that constantly asks, “How do I stay motivated?”, Robbins suggests we’ve been asking the wrong question all along.

James Altucher kicks things off with a question we’ve all silently wondered: How do you find the energy to be positive and make changes when life feels like a grind? Robbins’ response cuts through the fog like a laser:

“You’ve got to find something you value more than yourself. Motive brings energy.”

Wait—what? Motive? Not motivation?

This is the a-ha moment. For the first time, many of us connect the dots: motive is the root of motivation. It's not just linguistic—it’s foundational. Motive is the reason why you do something. It’s the “what for” behind the hustle. Motivation without motive is like trying to drive a car with no fuel.

Most people go searching for motivation like it’s a lost sock. But Robbins flips the frame. Instead of asking, “How do I get motivated?”, ask “What is my motive?” Because once that’s clear, energy follows.

Motive Is Bigger Than You
If your motive is self-centered—more money, more success, more praise—it works… for a while. But it eventually plateaus. Robbins shares that the real energy comes from doing things for something larger than yourself.

“Once something beautiful happens in your life, the first thing you want to do is share it… because when you share it, it grows.”

It’s not a fluffy idea—it’s psychology. Fulfillment grows when it’s passed on. Joy expands in relationship. Motive expands when it's connected to contribution.

How Do You Find This Motive?
Robbins drops the second insight: Environment shapes energy.

“If you haven’t found your passion, you need to get around people who have.”
Your vibe really is your tribe. If you’re surrounded by bored, burned-out cubicle dwellers refreshing Facebook for meaning, that’s what you absorb. You become who you spend time with.

This hit home hard. For anyone who’s ever barricaded themselves in a “productivity castle” (you know, moat full, drawbridge up), this is a wake-up call. Working alone might get things done, but shared experience accelerates insight.

Sure, you may have networked, gone to events, built a few connections—but if you’ve mentally placed “relationships” one rung below “getting stuff done”, it may be time to rethink the ladder.

Ironically, in trying to do it all solo, we often delay our own success. If you play by the 80/20 rule, then here’s a revelation: surrounding yourself with passionate people may be one of the highest-return 20% actions you can take.

“But Tony, That’s Easy for You to Say…”
James Altucher plays devil’s advocate—what about the people stuck in traffic, commuting to jobs they hate? Robbins doesn’t flinch.

“Who is Tony Robbins? I’m a kid from California. Nobody in my family was successful in business.”

In other words, there’s no secret silver spoon. What he does have is a relentless commitment to feeding the mind and strengthening the body. That’s where lasting change starts.

He reminds us that “success leaves clues.” Find people who have what you want and model their strategies. Compress decades of trial and error into days of smart learning.

His Final Formula for Change:

• Strengthen your body. Energy starts physical.

• Feed your mind. Read, learn, challenge your assumptions.

• Diversify your life. Build more than just a business—build you.

• Find your reasons first. The how always follows a powerful why.

Altucher’s Takeaway, and Maybe Yours Too
This episode doesn’t just offer insight—it delivers a personal reckoning. Like many of us, Altucher realizes he’s spent too much time solo, trying to think his way to breakthroughs. But sometimes the biggest insights don’t come from thinking harder—they come from being with better thinkers.

So if you’re stuck, tired, or uninspired, don’t go hunting for motivation. Instead, ask the two questions Tony Robbins poses implicitly:

1. What do I care about more than myself?

2. Who am I spending time with—and who could I be?

Get those right, and energy will never be your problem again.