Money, Power, Fame, or Pleasure: What’s Really Driving Your Startup?
Ask any entrepreneur why they started their company and you'll get a rational answer. They spotted a gap in
Ask any entrepreneur why they started their company and you’ll get a rational answer. They spotted a gap in the market. They wanted to solve a problem. They craved the freedom of being their own boss.
But scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find something much more primal driving that decision. Something they probably won’t admit in a pitch deck or investor meeting.
What Really Motivates Entrepreneurs
Behavioural science tells us that what motivates entrepreneurs isn’t always what they claim in pitch decks. Most are actually chasing one of four things: money, power, fame, or pleasure. Not the sanitised, professional versions we talk about in business plans, but the raw human desires that get us out of bed at 3am to work on “just one more feature.”
Understanding what motivates entrepreneurs isn’t just academic curiosity. These motivations aren’t evil, but the problem comes when one completely takes over, warping every decision until you’re building a business that serves your ego instead of your customers.
When Money Becomes Your Master
Money feels like the obvious answer to what motivates entrepreneurs. After all, isn’t business about profit?
But here’s the thing: entrepreneurs obsessed with money often make less of it. They optimise every decision for quick cash, sacrificing everything that actually creates long-term value.
I’ve seen money-driven founders choose markets purely based on size, cut corners on quality to boost margins, and pivot constantly toward whatever looks most profitable this quarter. They end up with businesses that work on spreadsheets but fall apart in reality.
The entrepreneurs who build lasting wealth? They’re usually the ones who care about money enough to be smart with it, but not so much that it drives every decision.
The Power Trip That Destroys Companies
Power-motivated entrepreneurs are tricky to spot because they hide behind words like “vision” and “leadership.” They’re drawn to the idea of building something significant, of having influence, of being the person who calls the shots.
This can work brilliantly in the early days. Power-hungry founders often excel at raising investment (VCs love confidence), recruiting talent, and making tough decisions quickly.
But power as your primary drug creates predictable problems. These founders struggle to delegate because giving up control feels like losing part of themselves. They make decisions based on maintaining authority rather than what’s best for the business. They create companies where everything revolves around them.
Here’s the kicker: the people most desperate for power are usually those who hate being controlled themselves. They know exactly how awful it feels, yet they still crave the ability to control others.
Fame: The Modern Entrepreneur’s Trap
When examining what motivates entrepreneurs, fame has become increasingly important in our social media age. We live in the era of founder celebrity: LinkedIn influencers, podcast guests, conference speakers. Fame has become a legitimate driver, even if few admit it openly.
Fame-driven entrepreneurs often build impressive personal brands alongside their companies. They’re naturals at generating publicity, networking, and creating buzz around their products.
But when your primary goal is recognition, you start making decisions based on what will get attention rather than what serves customers. You prioritise flashy, newsworthy moves over boring business fundamentals. You spend more time talking about your company than actually running it.
The pursuit of honour feels noble, which makes it particularly dangerous. After all, isn’t it good to want your work recognised?
The Pleasure Principle
Some entrepreneurs are driven primarily by pleasure: flexible schedules, interesting work, the joy of creation. When studying what motivates entrepreneurs, these “lifestyle entrepreneurs” often build businesses around their passions.
This can lead to genuine innovation when you’re solving problems you personally understand. Pleasure-driven founders often create amazing company cultures and products they genuinely love.
But when pleasure becomes everything, you start avoiding the unpleasant parts of running a business. You resist scaling beyond your personal capacity. You make decisions based on what you enjoy rather than what the business needs.
The Lies We Tell Ourselves
The most dangerous entrepreneurs aren’t those who know what drives them. They’re the ones lying to themselves about it.
The founder who claims to be “changing the world” but obsesses over valuation and exit strategies? Money-driven.
The CEO who talks about “empowering teams” but won’t delegate meaningful decisions? Power-hungry.
The entrepreneur who says they’re “customer-focused” but spends half their time on podcasts? Fame-motivated.
Self-awareness isn’t just nice to have. It’s a competitive advantage. When you know what really drives you, you can make rational decisions instead of emotional ones. You can hire people to cover your blind spots. You can align your business model with your actual motivations instead of fighting against them.
Find Your Real Driver
Want to know what’s really motivating you? Try this exercise.
Think about money, power, fame, and pleasure. Now imagine you could only have three of them at “average” levels. Comfortable, but nothing special. Which one would you give up first?
Keep going until you’re left with one. That’s probably your primary driver.
There’s no right answer here. The point isn’t judgement; it’s honesty. Once you know what really motivates you, you can:
Build a business structure that works with your nature Spot when that motivation is leading you astray
Hire people who care about the things you don’t Stop fighting against what you actually want
Working With Your Nature
Once you understand your primary driver, design your business around it instead of against it.
Money-motivated? Focus on clear paths to profitability and sustainable competitive advantages. Surround yourself with people who care about culture and vision.
Power-driven? Build systems for effective delegation and seek regular feedback. Choose businesses where strong leadership genuinely matters.
Fame-motivated? Embrace it, but make sure there’s substance behind the story. Build businesses that create real value, not just good PR.
Pleasure-driven? Focus on sustainable models that let you stay engaged with the work you love. Plan for growth that doesn’t kill what you enjoy about entrepreneurship.
The Real Secret
The most successful entrepreneurs don’t eliminate their primary motivations. They harness them.
Your drive isn’t your weakness. It’s your fuel. But like any powerful force, it needs direction and understanding.
The question isn’t whether you’re motivated by money, power, fame, or pleasure. The question is whether you’re honest enough to admit it and smart enough to build a business that channels that drive toward something meaningful.
What motivates entrepreneurs isn’t always what they claim. The answer might surprise you. But it’s probably the key to building something that actually lasts.
