What motivates you?

I have always been interested in what drives people to do what they do. And more importantly what drives them to do it better.

The motivations in my life have defiantly changed over time.

In elementary school is was the promise of 10 extra minutes of recess. Or perhaps the fear of receiving beatings from your classmates if you were the one that kept the class from getting the 10 minutes.

In middle school, the promise of a special meal or toy for getting an A on a test. Like a dog who learns how to sit, and roll over.

In high school, it was an off campus lunch or a pass from doing sit ups. Or the simple gratification that came from graduating and never having to think about high school ever again!

At 16 it was the promise of a car if I got my Eagle scout award, which was a close one, I actually had to forge a signature an hour before turning in my papers before the deadline. (Wasn't my fault they changed the forms on me and the guy had moved to Seattle.)

In college it was the ability to drop the lowest test score, or skip out on the final all together (this one ALWAYS got me. I don't think I ever took a final in any of the classes that offered this).

Now in the real world, its defiantly the money that motivates me. Not that I am only in it for the money (I think anyone who knows what I am getting payed would agree with me on that one), but the promise of more money for a job well done, definitely keeps me coming back for more.

So what motivates you? Is it money, an extra recess (vaca days), or possibly a tasty treat? And is there a point where money or any motivator stops motivating people? Where is the turning point when the promise of a tasty treat, kills your motivation? Does that place even exist?