6 Human Design Motivations & Using Them In Business

Understanding your Motivation in Human Design can offer insights into the underlying forces shaping your perspectives and actions.

It can help you recognize why you might feel drawn to certain paths or behaviors, as well as how you can align with your intrinsic motivations for greater ease and flow in your business.

There are six types of motivations in Human Design, each with its unique characteristics, as well as it’s Not-Self behavior and Transference.

In this article I’ll share:

• A quick explanation of each Motivation

• The Not-Self of each Motivation

• The Transference of each Motivation

• How to use each Motivation in Business

How To Find Your Human Design Motivation

Before we start, use this Variable Calculator to find your Motivation.

After you enter your info, you’ll get your chart too, and when you scroll down you’ll see “Motivation”

The 6 Motivations

Now let me give you a quick rundown of each of them:

1. Fear Motivation (Survival): If you have Fear motivation you are driven by the need to understand and mitigate potential threats or risks. This motivation prompts you to ask questions, seek knowledge, and gain clarity to dispel fears and uncertainties. It’s not about being fearful but about using the awareness of potential challenges as a catalyst for learning and growth.

2. Hope Motivation (Desire): Hope motivation is characterized by a future-oriented desire for something better or more fulfilling. If you have this motivation you are driven by your visions of what could be, often inspiring others with your optimism and aspirations. Your actions are motivated by the pursuit of these hopes and dreams.

3. Desire Motivation (Ambition): Desire motivation is driven by personal ambition and the pursuit of fulfillment through achievements. This motivation provides the passion and drive necessary to push through obstacles and challenges. It’s about dreaming big and pursuing those dreams with determination.

4. Need Motivation (Necessity): This motivation is driven by a sense of need or requirement. This could manifest in focusing on the basic needs of life, such as security, stability, and sustenance, or it could be about meeting more abstract needs, such as the need for creativity, innovation, or personal growth. Your focus is on addressing these needs to maintain or improve your situation.

5. Guilt Motivation (Obligation): Guilt motivation is rooted in a sense of responsibility or obligation. If you have this motivation you are driven by what you believe you should do, often focusing on duties, commitments, and the expectations of others. You are motivated by the desire to meet these obligations to avoid feelings of guilt.

6. Innocence Motivation (Exploration): Innocence motivation is characterized by a drive for simplicity and being in the moment. If you have this motivation you prefer to observe and experience life without the need to control or analyze everything. Your actions are motivated by a desire for peace and a simple enjoyment of life’s experiences.

Not Self of Motivations

Each motivation also has a corresponding “Not-Self” theme, which can manifest when you are not living in alignment with your true nature, or when they are under stress or pressure from external circumstances.

The Not-Self theme of a motivation reflects an unhealthy expression of that motivation, often leading to feelings of frustration, bitterness, anger, or disappointment.

Here are the Not-Self themes for each of the six motivations:

1. Fear Motivation (Survival) Not-Self: When driven by the Not-Self, Fear motivation can lead to paranoia or an overwhelming sense of anxiety and worry. Instead of constructive investigation and learning, you may become consumed by your fears, seeing threats where there are none and becoming overly cautious or indecisive.To counteract the Not-Self, it’s important to channel the underlying fear into constructive action. This involves recognizing valid concerns and addressing them through informed decision-making rather than allowing fear to lead to paralysis.

2. Hope Motivation (Desire) Not-Self: The Not-Self expression of Hope motivation can manifest as disillusionment or constant disappointment. When hope is not grounded in reality or when you are too attached to specific outcomes, you may find yourself frequently let down or living in a state of wishful thinking without taking actionable steps. While it’s essential to dream big, ensure your hopes are grounded in reality with clear, actionable steps. This balance can help mitigate the cycle of high hopes followed by disappointment.

3. Desire Motivation (Ambition) Not-Self: The Not-Self expression of Desire motivation can manifest as greed or an unquenchable thirst for more, where the pursuit of desires becomes compulsive. This can drive you to chase after goals without considering your true wants or the consequences of your actions, leading to a never-ending cycle of dissatisfaction. To counteract the Not-Self, it’s crucial to stay connected with your authentic desires and ensure that the goals you pursue genuinely resonate with your values and bring true satisfaction.

4. Need Motivation (Necessity) Not-Self: In its Not-Self form, Need motivation can lead to a sense of lack or insatiability, where you feel you never have enough, or that what you have is never satisfactory. This can result in a constant striving for more without appreciating what is already present, leading to feelings of emptiness or unfulfillment.To avoid the pitfalls of the Not-Self, it’s crucial to cultivate gratitude and mindfulness. Recognize and appreciate the value of what your business currently offers, and ensure that any pursuit of growth or expansion is driven by genuine market needs rather than an insatiable desire for more.

5. Guilt Motivation (Obligation) Not-Self: The Not-Self theme of Guilt motivation can manifest as resentment or a feeling of being trapped by obligations. You may find yourself doing things out of a sense of duty rather than genuine desire, leading to internal conflict, dissatisfaction, and a lack of authenticity in your actions. Prioritize self-care to avoid burnout. Recognizing your own needs is crucial to maintaining the energy and enthusiasm needed to serve others effectively. Also ensure that your business activities are genuinely interesting and fulfilling to you, beyond just fulfilling a sense of duty.

6. Innocence Motivation (Exploration) Not-Self: When Innocence motivation is expressed through the Not-Self, it can lead to aimlessness or a lack of direction. You may become overly passive, drifting through life without making conscious choices or engaging actively with your experiences, potentially missing out on personal growth and fulfillment. To counteract the Not-Self, it’s important to remain open to opportunities while staying true to your core values and strengths. Balancing presence with a gentle intentionality can help harness the power of Innocence motivation without drifting into passivity.

Transference of Motivations

Transference in Human Design refers to the phenomenon where you unconsciously shift from your true motivation to its opposite on the motivation “wheel”.

This shift usually happens as a coping mechanism when you are not aligned with your true nature or when you are under stress.

Here’s a breakdown of each motivation and its corresponding transference:

1. Fear Motivation (Survival):

Transference: Need (Necessity)

Here your focus shifts towards seeking security and stability in the material world, emphasizing physical needs and resources as a way to counterbalance your fears.

2. Hope Motivation (Desire):

Transference: Guilt (Obligation)

Here your natural optimism is overshadowed by a sense of obligation, remorse, or a fixation on past actions and their consequences.

3. Desire Motivation (Ambition):

Transference: Innocence (Exploration)

When Desire transfers to Innocence, there’s a shift from goal-oriented behaviour towards a more laid back attitude which can manifest as a disinterest in ambition and a preference for simplicity, often at the expense of losing direction and a sense of purpose.

4. Need Motivation (Necessity):

Transference: Fear (Survival)

Here you become more preoccupied with existential questions, uncertainties and fears, leading to a sense of vulnerability or anxiety about the unknown.

5. Guilt Motivation (Obligation):

Transference: Hope (Desire)

As you abandon your own needs and allow pressure and guilt to take over, you shift towards a more wishful thinking attitude.

6. Innocence Motivation (Exploration):

Transference: Desire (Ambition)

In Transference you abandon your tranquil acceptance of life that defines Innocence, and step more into chasing ambitions, seeking specific outcomes, goals and achievements.

Fear Motivation in Business

1. Inquiry’s the Game: You’ve got this insatiable hunger for knowledge, right? Use that! Get ahead of the curve. When others are zigging, you’re zagging because you’ve done the homework, you see the trends, and you’re already three steps ahead.

2. Innovate Like a Boss: Fear’s got you looking around corners, seeing what others don’t. That’s where you find the gold. Adapt, pivot, and roll out stuff that blows people’s minds because you’ve seen the gaps they haven’t.

3. Risk? Manage It Like a Pro: You’re not just throwing darts in the dark, you’re playing chess. Every move is calculated. You’ve got plans A, B, and C, and that builds a fortress around your brand. People trust that.

4. Transparency is King: Talk about your battles, your wins, and your losses. People don’t just buy what you’re selling, they buy you. They buy into your approach, your values, your personality. Show them you’ve been in the trenches and you’ve got the map to navigate them.

5. Be the Guide: Your clients have fears too, right? Be the one that guides them through it all. Educate, enlighten and empower. When you solve their nightmares before they even hit the pillow, you’ll be the one that’s top of mind.

6. Collaborate to Dominate: Don’t go at it alone. Link up with those Desire motivated go-getters, the dreamers, the ones that complement your vibe. It’s like mixing fire and ice. You cool their jets while they light your fire. Together, you’re unstoppable.

7. Value, Value, Value: Hammer home the fact that your attention to detail isn’t just nice, but necessary. In a world of quick fixes, your brand is the rock. And that’s priceless.

Hope Motivation in Business

1. Set the Bar High: Dream big, then get out there and make it happen. Your business isn’t just a business but a movement. Paint that picture so vividly that everyone from your team to your grandma gets where you’re heading.

2. Be the Hype: Your energy is infectious. When you’re pumped about the future, your people will be too. It’s not just about keeping spirits high, but about leading a charge towards something monumental.

3. Make It Shine: Your optimism? That’s gold. Let it permeate every tweet, post, and speech. People are drawn to light, and  you’re a blazing sun in a sea of light bulbs.

4. Give Value Like a Boss: Don’t just sell – inspire. Run workshops, webinars, put out content that’s showing the juicy outcomes and showing how they are possible with your method. Make people think, “Damn, I want what they’re having!”

5. Goals? Think Moonshots: If your dreams don’t scare you a little, they’re not big enough. Set those sights sky-high, then laser-focus on making them a reality.

6. Sell the Dream: Every product, every service – it’s a stepping stone to someone’s better future. Your job? Make them see that future is so bright, and that your approach will help them get there.

7. Storytelling with Soul: Share the journeys, the transformations, those “holy smokes” moments. Make your audience feel it in their bones.

8. Future-Proof Your Offerings: Position what you’ve got as not just a solution, but a revolution. It’s not about the sale, it’s truly about the impact.

Desire Motivation in Business

1. Aim for the Stars: Your goals? They should scare you a little. That’s how you know they’re big enough. Set those ambitious targets that get you fired up every morning. That’s your north star, guiding every move you make.

2. Seize the Day: Opportunities are everywhere, but it takes that desire-driven beast in you to grab them. New markets, innovative offers, game-changer moves – that’s where you thrive.

3. Broadcast Your Dreams: Don’t keep those big ambitions to yourself. Shout ’em from the rooftops. Let your audience in on your journey. Your vision isn’t just inspiring, it magnetizes other driven people who are bound to have success with you.

4. Your Saga is Gold: Every hurdle, every setback, every triumph – that’s the stuff of legends. Share your story, and watch how your journey resonates, building a brand that’s as real as it gets.

5. Success Breeds Success: Flaunt those wins, because they’re proof you’ve got what it takes. People are drawn to winners, to possibility. Show them what’s possible and they’ll line up at your door.

6. Desire Meets Needs: Get into your clients’ heads. What are they dreaming of? Tailor your offerings so they’re the pathway to their desires. That’s how you win hearts and wallets.

7. Inspire to Aspire: Put out content that lights a fire under people. Inspire them, challenge them, dare them to dream bigger. That’s how you build not just a following but a movement.

8. Balance is Key: Remember, you’re running a marathon, not a sprint. Take care of yourself. Rest, recharge, and keep that fire burning bright without burning out.

9. Stay True to You: Regularly check that compass of yours. Are your desires still lining up with who you are, with what you truly want? That’s the key to not just success, but fulfillment.

10. Market Like a Maverick: Your marketing? It should ooze aspiration. Show them not just the product, but the lifestyle, the success, the dream. Make your brand the ladder to their ambitions.

Need Motivation in Business

1. Spot the Gap, Fill the Gap: You’ve got this killer instinct to sniff out what’s missing in your market. It’s like you’ve got this sixth sense for what people need before they even know they need it. Dive deep, do the homework, and you’ll be changing the game.

2. Keep It Real: Your story, your values, your efforts – share that. People connect with authenticity, not sales pitches. When they see your heart, your passion, and that you’re all in on solving real problems, that’s when loyalty is born.

3. Talk Their Language: Hit ’em with content that gets right to the heart of their struggles. Blogs, podcasts, tweets – whatever it takes. Be the voice that cuts through the noise with answers they’ve been needing.

4. Get in the Trenches: It’s not just about broadcasting but about conversation. Be there, answer questions, offer help. Show up and show out. Your commitment to their needs is your brand’s superpower.

5. Be the Answer: Every piece of your message, every pixel of your brand, should scream “I’ve got you.” Make your solutions so tailored, so on-point, that turning to anyone else just seems crazy.

6. The Pulse of Your People: Keep your ear to the ground. Feedback, surveys, DMs – use it all. Stay so aligned with your audience’s needs that missing the mark just isn’t an option.

7. Stay Ahead of Needs: That Need Motivation should have you always on the move, always iterating. What’s the next big need? How can you meet it? Stay hungry, stay foolish, and never stop pushing the envelope.

8. Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve: Let that passion for meeting needs shine through every aspect of your brand. When people see your genuine drive to make a difference, that’s not just branding, it’s legacy building.

Guilt Motivation in Business

1. Build a Fortress of Trust: You’re the rock, the steady hand. In a world of flakes and fakes, your word is gold. Brand yourself as the go-to for reliability. When you say you’ll do it, it’s as good as done. That’s not just business; that’s respect.

2. Service That Stuns: Overdeliver like a boss. Every client, every project, gets your 110%. You’re not just meeting expectations but blowing them out of the water. That’s how you turn clients into repeat customers and your brand evangelists.

3. Stand for Something: Your business isn’t just about transactions but about transformations. Whether it’s community service, sustainability, or whatever gets you fired up, make that your flag. Clients love a brand with heart.

4. Quality is Your Signature: You set the bar. In your world, it’s excellence or nothing. That commitment to quality doesn’t just set you apart, it puts you in a league of your own.

5. Be the Voice: Take the mic on responsibility, ethics, service. When you speak up about what matters, you’re positioning yourself as the leader. That’s how you grow a beloved brand and powerful movement.

6. Market With Meaning: Your clients aren’t just looking for services, but for a partner that gets it. Use your story and your successes to show them that when they choose you, they’re choosing a brand that stands by its word.

7. Trust is Your Trademark: In every interaction, every deal, show them that your word is your bond. That trust is your currency, and you’re rich in it.

Innocence Motivation in Business

1. Keep It 100% Real: Listen, in a world full of facades, your authenticity is like a breath of fresh air. Be you, unapologetically, and watch how people flock to that realness. That’s how you build trust, and turn followers into brand evangelists.

2. Simplicity Sells: Cut the jargon, cut the complexity. Make your products or services so simple, so clear, that anyone can get it. That’s how you broaden your reach.

3. Your Story, Your Superpower: Your journey, your ups and downs, the raw and real – share that. People don’t just buy products, they buy stories, they buy journeys. Let your personal brand be a testament to that.

4. Spark That Curiosity: Create content that’s not just informative but inspiring. Share those moments of wonder, those insights that come from just being present. That’s how you engage, how you connect on a deeper level.

5. It’s About the Ride, Not Just the Destination: Show your clients that what you offer is more than a service or a product – it’s an experience. It’s the growth, the learning along the way that counts.

6. Stay Grounded: But hey, don’t get so caught up in the clouds that you lose sight of the ground. Balance that wonder with wisdom, and your openness with solid decision-making.

7. Direction is Key: Sure, go with the flow, explore, but always have that compass pointing towards your goals. Don’t lose sight of where you’re headed, no matter how winding the path.

8. Balance is Everything: Link up with those go-getters, the planners, the strategists. Their drive mixed with your openness creates a powerhouse dynamic that can take your business to new heights.

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P.S. There’s sooo much more to discover about yourself through Human Design.

I invite you to grab your chart and enter the HD Vault.

It’s a free Notion board that I’ve made in collaboration with other Human Design experts, and filled it with videos, books, podcasts, chart explanations, free trainings, embodiment journal, and of course a Business section.

This post was originally published on my blog