In The Power of Professionalism we advocate that being a part of something bigger than yourself has (among other things) an especially motivating aspect. Of course, ‘being a part of something bigger than yourself’ is integral to how a professional thinks. It’s the second of the seven mind-sets that defines professionals.
When people discover meaning, they blossom. Being a part of an organization that shares that meaning becomes a big deal. Believing that the world is incomplete without whatever you’re working on often becomes more important (from a motivation point of view) than self-interest (e.g. stock options, cushy office, etc).
A terrific article by Peter Guber —The Secret To Attracting The ‘A’ Team— illustrates this in an especially compelling way. Enjoy.