You know, the question you should be asking isn’t ‘What do I want?’ but ‘What would excite me?’ It’s a subtle shift that completely changes how you approach your life and work, moving you from obligation to genuine inspiration.
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Table of Contents
Meaning
The core message here is about trading goal-oriented thinking for excitement-driven action. It’s about finding your internal compass for motivation, not just following an external checklist for success.
Explanation
Let me break this down for you. For years, I used to be obsessed with goals. You know, the classic SMART goals, the five-year plans. And I’d hit them, sure. But there was this… emptiness sometimes. A feeling of “is this it?”
That’s because “What do I want?” is often framed by society, by our parents, by what we think we *should* be doing. It’s a cognitive question. It lives in your head. But “What would excite me?”… that’s a different beast. That question bypasses the brain and goes straight to the gut. It taps into raw emotion and intrinsic motivation.
Think about it. When you’re genuinely excited about something, the work doesn’t feel like work. You have boundless energy. You’re pulled forward by a force that feels almost magnetic. That’s the state you want to be in. That’s the state where real, meaningful, and sustainable success is built.
Quote Summary
Reading Level77
Aesthetic Score84
Origin & Factcheck
This insight comes straight from Tim Ferriss’s 2016 book, Tools of Titans, which was published in the US. It’s a distillation of the patterns he observed interviewing hundreds of world-class performers. While the sentiment feels universal, this specific phrasing is Ferriss’s.
Attribution Summary
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | The question you should be asking isn’t, ‘What do I want?’ or ‘What are my goals?’ but, ‘What would excite me?’ |
| Book Details | Publication Year: 2016; ISBN: 9781328683786; Last edition: 2017 Paperback; Number of pages: 707 |
| Where is it? | Part I: Healthy, Section: Fear-setting, Approximate page from 2016 edition: 130 |
Context
Ferriss places this idea in the section about mindfulness and mental frameworks, not necessarily business tactics. It’s presented as a foundational mindset hack. The context isn’t about achieving more, but about achieving what truly matters *to you* without burning out. It’s about designing a life you don’t need a vacation from.
Usage Examples
So how do you actually use this? It’s simple, but not easy.
First, when you’re feeling stuck or facing a big decision, stop asking “What’s the logical next step?” or “What’s the safe move?” Instead, sit with a coffee and ask yourself, “Okay, honestly, what here actually excites me?” The answer might surprise you.
Second, for entrepreneurs and creators, apply it to your projects. Instead of “What product should I build that will sell?” try “What project would I be so excited about that I’d work on it for free?” That’s usually the one that has the most authentic energy and, ironically, the biggest potential.
And finally, for anyone feeling a bit lost in their career, use it as a compass. “What part of my day, even a tiny sliver, genuinely excites me?” Follow that thread. It often leads you to your real strengths and passions.
To whom it appeals?
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FAQ
Question: But what if what excites me isn’t practical or profitable?
Answer: Great question. The excitement is your North Star, not the entire map. You use that excitement as the fuel, then get creative and strategic about building a practical path *towards* it. Often, the “impractical” excitement leads to the most innovative and profitable ideas because you’re willing to put in the unseen work.
Question: Isn’t this just about following a fleeting emotion?
Answer: There’s a key difference between excitement and a distraction. True excitement has a lasting quality. It’s the thing you keep coming back to. It’s the project you think about in the shower. A fleeting distraction is just that—fleeting. This question helps you tell the difference.
Question: How is this different from just asking what makes me happy?
Answer: Happiness can be passive. Excitement is active. It contains an element of challenge, of edge, of growth. You can be happy watching TV. You’re excited about building a business, learning a language, training for a marathon. Excitement pulls you into a state of flow and engagement.
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