Do You Follow the Rules? What Motivates Us?

Earlier this month, David and I went to the 99U conference in NYC. One of the speakers I was most excited to hear was Gretchen Rubin. I've been a fan ever since I read her book, "The Happiness Project."

I appreciate Gretchen Rubin because she practices what she preaches. I like how she determines what works in her daily life by actually trying it. Her own life was her motivation behind "The Happiness Project."

Since the conference is aimed towards creatives having a more fufilled and richer work/personal life, Rubin talked about the types of people follow or don't follow rules. Recognizing what motivates our co-workers, family, friends, clients, vendors, the coffee barista, the UPS guy, the people we encounter and ourselves, will help us make better decisions.

According to Rubin there are four types of behaviors when it comes down to how we follow directions. They are:

The Upholder

You are motivated by fulfillment. You accept rules and meet deadlines. When you make a New Year's resolution you keep it.

The Questioner

You are motivated by sound reason. You question rules. You follow them only if they make sense to you.

The Rebel

You are motivated by present desire. You resist rules. In fact, if you're given a rule you often do the opposite.

The Obliger

You are motivated by external accountability. You accept outside rules but don't set self-imposed rules.

Personally, I think most people are a blend of different behaviors with a natural tendency towards one, depending on the situation. I'm a mix between The Upholder and The Questioner.

What are you?