What’s Driving Your Hustle? The 4 Psychological Forces Behind Success

Ever wonder why some people are obsessed with success while others seem more content coasting through life? What makes certain people push through failure, self-doubt, and setbacks while others give up at the first sign of struggle?

Why do People Do What They Do?

At the core of human behavior, psychologists identify four primary behavioral functions that explain why people do what they do: 1) Escape, 2) Attention, 3) Access, and 4) Automatic/Sensory Motivation. These functions aren’t just relevant to psychology—they’re also deeply connected to why some individuals rise to the top, while others struggle to find fulfillment despite outward achievements.

Behind every ambitious, resilient, and high-achieving individual lies a deeper motivation—one that drives them to push past limits, overcome adversity, and continuously strive for more. But what truly fuels this relentless ambition?

Behavioral Research

The four functions mentioned above aren’t just theoretical—they’re backed by behavioral research.

In fact, studies show that:
✔ Escape-driven individuals experience higher stress and burnout if their ambition stems solely from avoiding failure (Schaufeli, 2018).
✔ Validation-seekers often struggle with long-term life satisfaction, as external approval becomes an exhausting chase (Deci & Ryan, 2000).
✔ Those motivated by financial security may achieve monetary success but report lower emotional well-being when their values aren’t aligned (Dittmar et al., 2014).
✔ Passion-driven achievers risk compulsive goal-chasing, struggling to find fulfillment beyond the next win (Lembke, 2021).

By identifying which of these drivers fuels your ambition, you can work toward success that’s both sustainable and fulfilling—without falling into the common psychological traps.

From Driving Force to Sustainable Success

Most successful people aren’t just “naturally driven.” They’re fueling their ambition from one of these places—whether they realize it or not. And, if you understand your own driving force, you can harness it in a way that leads to sustainable success (without burnout).

1. Escape: The Hustle Fueled by Fear

Some people succeed because they’re running from something—poverty, trauma, failure, self-doubt, or a past they refuse to repeat.

🔹 “I will never be broke again.”
🔹 “I refuse to be stuck in a life I hate.”
🔹 “Failure is not an option for me.”

Sound familiar? Maybe you grew up struggling. Maybe people doubted you. Maybe you’ve been knocked down so many times that failure is no longer an option.

📌 The Trap: Escape-driven ambition can work—but it can also turn into burnout and perfectionism. If you’re always running from something, you might never feel satisfied, no matter how much success you achieve.

✔ The Shift: Instead of just running from the past, start building a future you actually want. Learn to appreciate the journey, not just the escape route.

2. Attention: The Hustle Fueled by Validation

Some people are driven by recognition. They want to be seen, respected, admired.

🔹 “I’ll prove them all wrong.”
🔹 “I need people to see what I’m capable of.”
🔹 “Success is the only way I’ll ever be enough.”

Maybe you were overlooked. Maybe you’ve always felt like you had to fight for attention or respect. Maybe your worth was tied to your achievements since childhood.

📌 The Trap: Chasing validation can be exhausting. If your self-worth is tied to external success, you’ll always feel like you have to earn love and respect—even from yourself.

✔ The Shift: Success should be for you—not just to prove a point. Ask yourself: “If no one was watching, would I still want this?” If the answer is yes, then you’re on the right track.

3. Access to Tangibles: The Hustle Fueled by Power & Security

For some, success is a means to an end—freedom, stability, control. They’re not just hustling for fun, they’re actually building a safety net, so they never have to struggle again.

🔹 “I need to create generational wealth.”
🔹 “I refuse to rely on anyone else for security.”
🔹 “Money = Freedom.”

If you grew up in survival mode, this might be you. You’ve seen what happens when people don’t have financial control, and you refuse to let that be your story.

📌 The Trap: Money can’t solve every problem, and working yourself into exhaustion won’t make you feel truly secure.

✔ The Shift: Build wealth, yes—but also build a life. Learn that real security isn’t just about money; it’s about emotional stability, strong relationships, and a sustainable pace.

4. Automatic/Sensory: The Hustle Fueled by Passion & Dopamine

Then, there are those who just love the game. The challenge, the adrenaline, the pure joy of pushing limits. They aren’t escaping anything or proving anything; they’re just wired for the thrill.

🔹 “I love the process more than the outcome.”
🔹 “I thrive on competition and challenge.”
🔹 “I do this because I can’t not do it.”

These are the visionaries, the innovators, the relentless builders. They get bored easily and always chase the next big thing.

📌 The Trap: If you’re only chasing the high of success, you might struggle with boredom, impatience, or lack of fulfillment after reaching big goals.

✔ The Shift: Find balance between ambition and sustainability. Learn to appreciate rest as much as the hustle.

So, What’s Driving You?

Here’s the thing—there’s no wrong reason to be ambitious. Whether you’re fueled by pain, passion, validation, or security, your motivation is valid.

However, real power comes from understanding what’s driving you and making sure it’s taking you somewhere you actually want to be.

✔ If you’re running from pain, make sure you’re also running toward joy.
✔ If you’re proving yourself to others, make sure you’re also proving yourself to you.
✔ If you’re chasing security, make sure you’re also chasing fulfillment.
✔ If you’re addicted to the thrill, make sure you’re also building something that lasts.

Because ambition isn’t just about getting ahead. It’s about building a life that actually feels good to live.

Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01.

Dittmar, H., Bond, R., Hurst, M., & Kasser, T. (2014). The relationship between materialism and personal well-being: A meta-analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 107(5), 879–924. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037409.

Lembke, A. (2021). Dopamine nation: Finding balance in the age of indulgence. Dutton.

Schaufeli, W. B. (2018). Burnout: A short socio-cultural history. In S. Neckel, A. K. Schaffner, & G. Wagner (Eds.), Burnout, fatigue, exhaustion: An interdisciplinary perspective on a modern affliction (pp. 105–127). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52887-8_5.

If you're intrigued and want to dive deeper into this topic, check out my new Medium profile: @imaniwellsofficial, where I’ll be posting a four-part series exploring the hidden motivations behind ambition, success, and resilience. Want to share your thoughts and join the conversation? Click on the link Why We Hustle? Or All Stories to comment and engage!

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imani-wells.

Imani Wells is a mental health advocate, writer, and behavioral health specialist with a strong background in child development and psychology. She holds an AA in Early Childhood Education and is a proud member of the Alpha Beta Gamma Honor Society. She is currently pursuing her AA in Psychology at the College of Southern Nevada and is excited to soon transfer to the University of Nevada Las Vegas to continue her BA in Psychology.

Imani is also currently working as a Registered Behavior Technician, supporting children with autism, and serves as a Peer Group Support Facilitator with the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) as well as a crisis counselor with 988. To further integrate mindfulness into mental health support, she is also completing certifications in Social-Emotional Learning Facilitation (SEL*F) and Yoga (CYT-200).

Through her writing and advocacy, Imani is committed to bridging the gap between research and real-world strategies for healing and growth.