Motivation theory essentials: Understanding motives and their conversion into effortful goal pursuit

My commentary centers on two general theory essentials. One is a cogent depiction of motives and their operation. The other is an account of the conversion of motives into effortful goal pursuit. I construe motives as reasons to act that vary in strength, or importance, and have the capacity to (1) be either active or latent (quiescent), and (2) operate explicitly or implicitly. I argue that effort can, but will not necessarily, correspond to motive strength. After discussing the two essentials, I comment briefly on the relation between motive strength and desire, suggesting that the latter (desire) is not a simple function of the former (strength).