CHARACTER MOTIVATION THESAURUS

AVOIDING FINANCIAL RUIN



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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.
FORMS THIS MIGHT TAKE:
Saving a failing business
Saving a business from unethical practices that will cause it to go under if/when the perpetrators' actions are brought to light
Finding a job that will provide financial security
Pursuing a degree that will enable one to make more money
Paying off a large amount of debt (credit cards, medical bills, student loans, a mortgage, etc.)
Seeking to avoid declaring bankruptcy
Escaping a blackmailer or extortionist who is bleeding one dry

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 who runs a charity, knowledge center, or philanthropy-based business will be motivated to keep it afloat so they can continue to do rewarding work that benefits a specific group or mankind in general.
Esteem and Recognition: Someone who is afraid of the judgment of others or whose own value is tied to success will fight hard to stay afloat (and to hide the situation from others to avoid criticism).
Love and Belonging: If financial success is tied to the well-being of other treasured relationships (such as a spouse's contentment or child's happiness), the character may be driven to turn things around to avoid that personal loss.
Safety and Security: Financial strain can greatly impact the lives of the character and their family. To keep loved ones in a specific community, to pay for things that would ensure safety (such as higher education), or to keep their kids in a safe school, that character could be driven to avoid the type of financial apocalypse that would threaten their family's security.
Physiological Needs: If a financial crisis would threaten the character's most basic needs (such as taking away their home or making it difficult for them to buy food), they'll do anything to keep it from happening.

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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