Motivation, a need to succeed

Motivation is the experience of desire or aversion…You want something, or want to avoid or escape something. As such, motivation has both an objective side – a goal or thing you aspire to – and an internal or subjective aspect: it is you that wants the thing (or wants it to go away). -Wikipedia
I consider motivation as the sum of purpose, reason, and desire, which makes us work in a particular direction. In the absence or lack of any of these factors, we cannot work.
Ups and downs are part of life. Sometimes we lack motivation or get demotivated. This can happen because of a failure, lack of purpose and/or lack of energy. We should identify the reason and try to deal with it. If we do not know the purpose of doing a job we cannot do it with interest. Failure can also dishearten us and render simple tasks difficult for us. In such conditions, we can take the help of external means to cause and boost motivation within us. We can read motivational books or listen to motivational speeches or apply any other method.

EXAMPLES

When we go for a job, our primary motivation can be remuneration, However, after a few days, a few months or a few years remuneration only may not remain the only motivator to continue the job. We may feel the need for job satisfaction which we may find lacking. Sometimes we are not clear about the end product of a task and the task seems to be drudgery. In this case, if someone could guide us and tell the purpose and importance of the task at hand we will do it with interest.
Take the example of a postman. The letters, he delivers may include an appointment letter of a job for an unemployed man, a proposal for somebody's daughter's marriage or some other important matter. If he realizes this, he will perform his duty with more pride and sincerity.
So it is important to find the purpose or aim of the work we are supposed to do. This is true for life itself. We should have some purpose to advance in life.
Success and failure
Ups and downs, success and failures are part of life. Winston Churchill has said, "success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." This courage comes from motivation. Let us not be overwhelmed by failure. The two most widely quoted examples of endurance and succeeding after multiple failures are those of Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Alva Edition.
Abraham Lincoln faced countless failures before being elected as a president of America. He is considered the best president of America.
Edison is the inventor of the electric light bulb. He failed 1000 times before finally making the electric bulb. I know a few persons, who failed in the test for lower jobs and later qualified for a higher job.

For some people Success is comparative. They weigh their success against their peers. This tendency may be disappointing. Healthy competition or getting inspired is good but always comparing yourself with others can be disadvantageous.