The Effects of Motivational Orientation on Entrepreneurial Well-Being

Abstract: Different from the short-lived pleasure of hedonic well-being, eudaimonic well-being conceptualizes the often effortful but fulfilling nature of self-actualization. Eudaimonia has recently started to attract attention in entrepreneurship literature because it promises to reflect the specific attributes of entrepreneurial well-being. This study sets out to apply the concept to the context of social entrepreneurship by examining the influence of the orientation of motivation on the nature of well-being derived from entrepreneurship. In alignment with a recent study providing evidence about the theoretical value of orientation of motivation, this exploratory study aims to investigate the mechanism behind the relation between the orientation of motivation and well-being. The findings show that, on the one hand, other-oriented motivation, in comparison to self-oriented motivation, leads to a notably lower hedonic well-being due to high negative affect. On the other hand, other-oriented motivation leads to higher eudaimonic well-being, due to its multifaceted effect on the dimensions purpose in life and personal growth. We provide evidence to support the notion that other-oriented entrepreneurs are more willing to sacrifice short-lived hedonic wellbeing in exchange for a long-lasting sense of fulfillment. Lastly, this study underlines the relevance of the theoretical value of orientation of motivation as it allows a more nuanced perception of social entrepreneurial motivation.