self-actualisation, a concept he describes as the instinct to make the best of our abilities, to strive to be the best we can be. Following the 1943 publication of A Theory of Human Motivation, Maslow added self-transcendence to the top of the triangle, which means spiritual needs are our number one motivation.

It's now widely held that our age and life circumstances dictate what motivates us. 'We're all motivated biologically, psychologically and socially,' says Hong Kong psychologist Michael Tsang. 'What motivates us is this psychic energy from basic biological instinct.

'Apart from that, behaviour will perpetuate if reinforced. We get paid, so we work. A child will choose a book when praised by his parents for reading. Also, there are individual and group differences. Age, gender and race all affect motivation.'

In today's fast-moving, ultra-competitive, stressful world, we often turn to others for help. We expect personal trainers to motivate us to get fit, teachers to motivate us to learn, life coaches to get us out of a professional or personal slump, and bosses to motivate us to climb the corporate ladder or even just to turn up at work. But who or what motivates these people?

'Making a difference. Being energised to make a difference. That's what I think motivation is, and certainly what motivates me,' says Merrin Pearse, Hong Kong manager of XL Results Foundation, a networking and life coaching organisation. 'The specifics may differ from person to person, but I think motivation is about improvement and I don't think that's changed much over time.'

Pearse advocates finding something to be passionate about, and staying true to yourself. 'For me it's the environment, and sharing my knowledge and love of Hong Kong's flora and fauna.' Pearse says that in his line of work he's lucky to come into contact with like-minded, positive individuals. 'I deliberately avoid negative thinkers,' he says. 'They de-motivate.'

People motivator Leisa Barnes says society is increasingly focused on careers and people recognise the need for help to achieve ever bigger goals and dreams. 'Motivation changes with age and gender. Men are more logical - they focus on the task at hand and their motivations often reflect that. Women tend to be more emotionally driven. Overall though, motivation is about passion, goal setting and task accomplishment.'

To motivate others, Barnes has to know her own motivations first. 'Professionally I constantly re-evaluate my goals, prioritise my time and set mini-goals to motivate me to achieve the bigger ones,' she says.

'A sense of accomplishment is motivation for me. On a personal level I try to visualise how I'll feel when I get to where I want to go. I write lists for everything. It keeps me motivated and focused. I also always reward myself for achievement. Recognition is known to be one of the most powerful motivators in the workplace and there's no harm in recognising your own results.'

Lots of people dream of being self-employed, but only a strong-willed few actually realise their dream, and even fewer succeed.

Sonia Yan Xin-yue, a self-employed Putonghua teacher, attributes her success to hard work and word of mouth. 'I'm grateful to one lady who had the confidence in me to teach her two five-year-old boys,' Yan says. 'From such small beginnings a thriving business has grown and I would say my main motivation has been the feeling of being needed and trusted.' Yan says swift growth was motivation enough to rent an office and get organised.

'Putonghua is a tough language to learn and I'm motivated by the children and adults who have such a strong desire to learn. When a student tells me they've been moved to a higher Putonghua class in school or parents say their children are singing songs in Putonghua at home, I feel motivated.'

To be the best teacher and motivator possible requires balance, Yan says. 'There's an enormous responsibility in teaching so I concentrate on keeping myself motivated in my everyday life outside the classroom with activities such as yoga, dancing and swimming. Knowing students need me to be the best I can be is motivation itself.'

This is a thought echoed by Claire Sergeant, who owns and runs Movement Improvement and employs eight fitness trainers and personnel. 'I find if someone doesn't want to do something, they won't. If I'm not enjoying a class or it's draining me, I give it up. If it doesn't feel good to me it won't to others and the greatest motivation I have is the feedback from clients.'

Interestingly, Sergeant is motivated by criticism as well as positive comments. 'After licking my wounds of course, I'm motivated to find a solution to the problem and to learn from it.' A firm believer in seeking motivation from others, Sergeant regularly dips into self-help books, the writings of business leaders and religious texts.

She says motivation in the fitness industry has definitely changed over the years, and it's different between the sexes, too. 'Back in the 1980s it would have been considered indulgent and even a bit weird to meditate, but in today's stressful world it's almost the norm. Perhaps the motivation is greater.'

Motivation goes with the territory in the world of a top-level business leader. Almen Wong Pui-ha is co-founder of Hong Kong's Pure Group and knows keeping staff motivated is a key to the success of any business. 'Motivation to me is when someone is willing and excited to do something without being asked or pushed.'

Wong recognises that this differs from person to person and that motivation is one of the hardest things to get right as a manager. 'Some people are motivated by money whereas monetary reward means very little to the person who's motivated by the process, teaching the class or training the individual, for example. These two people will have one thing in common though, they'll both feel good when they achieve their goal.'

Wong thinks that in today's technological world with our high standard of living, expectations are high and motivating people is harder. 'It takes more to motivate people nowadays. People have so many more choices, and often want to take the easy option.' Wong concedes that staying motivated is not an easy thing but it's imperative for a team leader and manager.

'My family motivates me and I live by the rule of work hard, play hard. Sharing time with my loved ones, time I've worked hard for, keeps me going and I'm then able to demonstrate that hard work is never wasted.

I think that's motivational.'