There are many things that motivate people toward some end goal. I divide these motivations into two categories: the physical and the spiritual.
A physical motivating factor would be doing what you do to “prove the haters wrong.” Or maybe you dream of being a millionaire. Maybe you want to buy that expensive car, or a big house, or impress a beautiful girl.
The problem with physical motivation is that it only lasts until you achieve that goal, or until you completely burn out. This is the kind of burnout where people typically tell themselves that it was never possible to be successful and they generally give up on most ambition in their life.
Physical motivation sets out to achieve a specific end, but it can’t and it has no staying power.
A spiritually motivating factor would be something like “it’s my duty to get up and work every day.” Or “I must use the gifts (life, health, strength, etc…) to leave the world a better place than I found it.” Or “I need to harness my energy and focus to complete important work because doing important work is an objectively good endeavor.”
Spiritual motivators do not set out to achieve any level of success. You are motivated not by the end result, but by the effort generated before any material success or failure happens. Because of this, it is sustainable and it brings far greater success and more general happiness with the work you do.
To elevate our desires beyond the materials of the world and into a place that is larger than you or me, we find that our material success is more an accident of the self-sacrifice we feel compelled to make because of some higher moral principle.