The Story of the Flower Lady: A Lesson in Internal vs. External Motivation

Every afternoon, a group of neighborhood kids would gather on the public field to play football. They weren’t in it for trophies, recognition, or rewards—they simply played for the fun of it. The joy of playing the game.

But not everyone was happy about their daily games. A nearby resident, known as the Flower Lady, grew increasingly frustrated. The kids’ rough play often spilled into her garden, damaging her carefully tended flowers. She tried scolding them, complaining, and even threatening to call someone—nothing worked.

Then she had an idea.

One day, she approached the boys and offered them 25 cents each to play football. Surprised but thrilled, the kids accepted. "We get paid to play football? Amazing!" they thought. Week after week, they returned, eagerly expecting their small reward.

But something had shifted.

The fun of the game began to fade into the background. What had once been a spontaneous and joyful pastime was now tied to the expectation of a paycheck. Then, without warning, the Flower Lady stopped paying them.

The result? The boys stopped playing. With no money on the line, the game no longer seemed worth it.

And the Flower Lady? She smiled, her garden safe once again.