When we introduce external rewards, goal dilution occurs. We stop pursuing tasks for their inherent value and instead chase the rewards themselves, which feel more immediately gratifying and take priority.
This mirrors how people respond when they're sold something unnecessary—the extrinsic incentive overshadows the original purpose.
The solution lies in either re-framing how we think about rewards or deploying them strategically.
We're often tempted to rely on external incentives because they create an illusion of control, but this sense of control is temporary rather than lasting. Worse, it tends to elicit only minimal effort—just enough to claim the reward.
To counteract this, we must deliberately re-frame our relationship with rewards whenever extrinsic motivation enters the picture, ensuring they support rather than replace our intrinsic drive.