I run a small company so might be a different perspective than you're looking for. But in general my motivations are: 1. Working with people that challenge me,

I run a small company so might be a different perspective than you're looking for. But in general my motivations are: 1. Working with people that challenge me, make me laugh, and who do great work. And who I can have a beer with :) That goes for the team here and our customers. 2. Doing projects or products that are challenging and somehow "meaningful" to me. I like to enter unchartered territory in my projects where possible. 3. Earning enough money to be happy day to day (I don't need much), but having the slightest opportunity to earn LOADS of money :) It did change my career. I started out earning good money contracting ($200K) and got bored after 4 years. Then started a business working with good people but bad clients and non-meaningful project, the business failed after 4 years. Now I'm building products and projects with great clients earning reasonable money, and working with a fun team.