CHARACTER MOTIVATION THESAURUS

PROVIDING SECURITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS



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HELPFUL TIP:

To understand why your character is driven toward a certain goal, get to know their positive and negative traits, as well as any significant emotional wounds that might be motivating them. Then you can explore the various kinds of conflict that could block them as they move toward their goal.
NOTES:
This entry can be applied to the character's own family where they build, act, or take steps to create security for their children (or children's children) or be used in the broader, altruistic sense of the character doing something that will safeguard others in some way for years to come.

FORMS THIS MIGHT TAKE:
Establishing and growing a family business
Creating a business empire that will provide for generations to come
Obtaining power or influence for one's family name (through a favorable marriage, by financially backing the right people, by creating a successful career in politics, through a prized skill or talent, etc.)
Inventing a vaccine for a widespread disease
Lobbying to have a natural area designated as a protected habitat, saving it from being destroyed by industry
Lobbying for stricter regulations to prevent abuse of a natural resource (pollution controls for air and water, for example)
Establishing a union to protect workers
Making it one's life work to tackle a big problem, such as cleaning up the oceans, rebuilding coral reefs so life may reform, inventing clean energy that is accessible by all, etc.
Establishing a crisis center for a specific need (disaster relief, a woman's shelter, etc.)
Building a free clinic, youth center, or other safe haven for people in need
Lobbying for change that will bring about equality and freedom for all
Joining the army to serve one's country
Performing a peacekeeping mission or being involved in a charitable operation (doctors without borders, Red Cross, UN peacekeeping missions, relief missions after a disaster, etc.)
Raising awareness (and funding) for a worthy cause
Obtaining important knowledge that can be applied to save others or reverse a terrible situation which will otherwise come to pass
Inventing new food-farming methods that will have less of an impact on the earth while relieving world hunger
Lobbying for research to define and fix a wide-impact problem (Colony Collapse Disorder in honeybees, for example)
Dedicating one's career to understanding a difficult problem and finding a way to circumvent or fix it (scientists researching climate change solutions, for example)
Facilitating peace treaties between groups of people, ending a war or opening up opportunities for people in both groups

HUMAN NEED DRIVING THE GOAL (INNER MOTIVATION):
There are five basic human needs that, when missing from a character's life, could motivate them to pursue this goal. The following needs are all possibilities, but only one of them should be the primary driver for any given character. For more information on the relationship between human needs and outer motivations, please see​ this ​Character Motivation tutorial.

Self-Actualization: A character with deep convictions and moral beliefs may be driven to chase a goal that helps them live these beliefs in full, especially goals that embrace altruism.
Esteem and Recognition: Many large corporations spearhead initiatives that will benefit the communities where they operate and also protect or help repair some of the damage associated with their business endeavors. For example, Oil and Gas companies may help to build a community center or sport facility in a community they are tied to, or may fund "green" projects like tree planting. This may have roots in altruism but it has a huge benefit in the company's reputation, raising their profile in the eyes of others.  
Love and Belonging: A character who was not involved in their child's life may seek amends by working to help them in the future (by building a family business that can be handed over for example, or that will earn enough money to provide support).
Safety and Security: If a threat is coming that can be prevented by acting now, the character will throw their time and energy into whatever will prevent this future danger. 

HOW THE CHARACTER MAY PREPARE FOR THIS GOAL:
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POSSIBLE SACRIFICES OR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GOAL:
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ROADBLOCKS WHICH COULD PREVENT THIS GOAL FROM BEING ACHIEVED:
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TALENTS & SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THE CHARACTER ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:
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WHAT'S AT STAKE IF THIS GOAL ISN'T MET?
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