RSA ANIMATE: Drive — The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
Dan Pink
Dan Pink challenges traditional views on motivation, arguing that autonomy, mastery, and purpose drive us more than rewards and punishments.
Why we picked this
The RSA Animate that started it all. Over 9 million views, and it will permanently change how you think about carrots and sticks.
Dan Pink distills decades of behavioral science research into a single, devastating argument: the reward-and-punishment model that governs most workplaces doesn’t just fail — it actively makes people worse at creative work. The science is clear that autonomy, mastery, and purpose produce better outcomes than bonuses and performance reviews.
What makes this particular version unforgettable is the RSA Animate treatment. Cognitive Media’s whiteboard illustrations track Pink’s argument in real time, turning abstract concepts into visual metaphors that stick in your memory. It’s a masterclass in both content and format — the kind of talk that spawned an entire genre of animated explainers.
If you manage people, hire people, or are managed by people, this is required viewing.