Motivation is a process that explains the intensity, direction, and perseverance of an individual to achieve his goals. The three main elements in this definition include intensity, direction, and persistence.
Based on the theory of the hierarchy of needs of Abraham Maslow, the theory of X and the theory of Y Douglas McGregor and contemporary motivational theory, the meaning of motivation is the 'reason' underlying an act perpetrated by an individual. A person is said to have high motivation can be interpreted that person has a very strong reason to achieve what he wants by doing his current job. Unlike the motivations in the sense that developed in a society that is often equated with the 'spirit', like the example in the conversation "I want my child has a high motivation". This statement can mean that the parents want their children have a high learning spirit. So, it should be understood that there are different uses of the term motivation in society. Some interpret motivation as a reason, and others interpret motivation equally with spirit.
In the relationship between motivation and intensity, the intensity is related to how enterprising a person is, but high intensity does not produce satisfactory work performance unless the effort is associated with a favorable direction to the organization. Conversely the last element, persistence, is the measure of how long a person can sustain his business .