What motivates you to stay on task at work?

definitely not fluther

Satisfaction in doing a job well.

The sense of responsibility that comes with having a job.

my unborn child, for him I stay focused (:

A paycheck. Ok… Ok…

Sitting back and watching others get the job done. Knowing I can sleep all day in my office and the work will get done.

And a paycheck. If there is no incentive, what would be the purpose. Rather be at the beach.

I think I got it. Self satisfaction for a job well done, and keeping the OCD fed.

@ChazMaz – your original answer didn’t adhere to one of the “let’s…” edit: that’s better ;-)

The potential to get fired.

Actually, I’m not a very good person to ask this… I get a lot of relative freedom in my work. Hooray science! (and freelancing)

One of these days I may have to find out…

Place for everything everything in it’s place. I’m anal, I like things finished.

I’m afraid I am a horrible person. I feel no guilt for using the company’s time for my own purposes. They still think I’m the best thing since sliced bread, so why not?

Ok, I do feel some guilt, but, as you can see, it doesn’t change me.

enthusiasm for the project.
no matter how heinous the task i try and find something that stokes me about it.

to be the go to person, the first choice for a replacement in leadership, the best choice for a promotion and untimately for say-so in what needs to be done.

nothing. if i don’t do it i don’t do it.

Successful completion. If you never get there your work has been in vain.

I’ve been having a hell of a problem with that recently. If anyone comes up with the killer answer, let me knwo!

coffee.

It never even occurred to me not to. I looked for a job, I agreed to do the work, and they agreed to pay me for it, nuf said.

Honoring a commitment I’ve made.
Meeting a deadline.
Fulfilling my responsibilities.
Getting a sense of accomplishment.
Supporting my project team or my peers or whoever is waiting for my finished work.
Earning my paycheck.
Not looking like a slacker or a jerk.
Getting it over with.

And—for some kinds of work—the pleasure of doing the job, doing it well, and having my efforts recognized.

Well. If I wasn’t task-orientated. and…
...if I didn’t receive immediate rewards for completing tasks, and…
...if I was not forced (by financial circumstances) to do my job, and…
...if my next paycheck doesn’t depend on me getting your work done…

…I would not willingly work at all.

I’m noticing lately that what keeps me motivated is the fear of looking like a slacker compared to my coworkers, and a sense of friendly competition to keep my work up-to-date.