The Dangers of Paying for Passion

Paying someone for a job they already love can actually make them hate it. It’s all about motivation.

There's intrinsic motivation—doing something because you genuinely enjoy it—and extrinsic

motivation, doing it for a reward like money. Classic experiments showed that simply

paying attention to workers boosted their productivity more than better lighting or longer

breaks. People felt valued. When you start rewarding a passion with cash, it can kill the

original joy. Your brain flips a switch, and suddenly it's not about the love

of the work anymore, it's just a transaction. True motivation comes from feeling skilled,

in control, and connected.