Dell attributes his four-decade-long drive not to a world-changing mission, but to an insatiable curiosity and the simple fun of solving business challenges, which he views as complex puzzles. This intrinsic motivation has sustained his enthusiasm without dulling over time.

To accelerate your career, focus on developing 'agency'. This means moving beyond assigned tasks to proactively solve unspoken, systemic problems. Instead of chasing high-visibility projects, look for the unaddressed issues that keep leaders up at night. Solving these demonstrates true ownership and strategic value.

Instead of setting rigid goals, the OHL framework defines objectives as puzzles. Teams then form hypotheses on how to solve them and are measured on their learnings through a cycle of three questions: "How well did it work?", "What did you learn?", and "What will you try next?"

Purpose isn't exclusive to high-status professions. Any job can become a source of deep purpose by connecting its daily tasks to a larger, positive impact. A NASA custodian can be "putting a man on the moon," and a parking attendant checking tire treads can be ensuring driver safety. Purpose is a mindset.

Systems—repeatable processes that save time, energy, and stress—are more reliable than willpower, which fades. Instead of just setting goals, build systems that make achieving them the default outcome, even when motivation is low.

Koenigsegg intentionally reframes "problems" as "challenges." This linguistic shift is a powerful mental model that transforms negative roadblocks into positive opportunities for growth. It encourages a mindset where individuals see obstacles as a chance to build themselves up, rather than as difficulties to be endured.

Reframe a new goal to align with a person's existing identity and skills. Neuroscientist Emily Falk was convinced to take up running when her brother framed it as a task for academics, who excel at planning and long-term work. This shifted the activity from a foreign physical challenge to something that leveraged her pre-existing strengths, making it more appealing.

Employees often reserve their best strategic thinking for complex hobbies. By intentionally designing the work environment with clear rules, goals, and compelling narratives—like a well-designed game—leaders can unlock this latent strategic talent and make work more engaging.

People naturally start their jobs motivated and wanting to succeed. A leader's primary role isn't to be a motivational speaker but to remove the environmental and managerial barriers that crush this intrinsic drive. The job is to hire motivated people and get out of their way.