I think he's right. The same qualities are essential to just about anything one wants to accomplish, and they have driven all of us since birth.

Think about it. Have you ever watched an infant try to pull up to a sitting position? He focuses all his effort into folding his little body in half using his abdominal muscles so his head and shoulders come up off the floor. He'll do it over and over again until he can sit up by himself to see the world better.

We use those same qualities as we get older, except that the things about which we become curious change, and we become determined and focused to accomplish more-advanced feats such as riding a bike, driving a car, designing a chip or founding a company. The motivators change, too. Sometimes it's to do what our friends do, be popular, feel the thrill of inventing a product or making a lot of money.

For a reporter, motivation is being curious enough about news so that nothing will deter him or her from finding out, even if people slam the phone down or walk away during an interview.

For an engineer, it's being so determined to design better products that he or she will work overtime nonstop to finish a project.

Where does this drive come from and how can we harness it?

I asked myself this question when, as a new parent, I worried that my five-month-old wasn't doing all the things that other children in his group were doing.

The day care center sent home an evaluation sheet asking me to rate my son's achievements. I was asked to check off activities he has accomplished and leave blank those he has not. Listed were behaviors such as smiling, rolling, sitting up and making "ah-goo" sounds. When I had finished, I was more aware of things my son was not doing and worried: What can I do to help him succeed? Should I spend more time with him practicing those things?

With the wisdom that comes from having reared four children, my mom assured me, "Children develop at their own pace."

After obsessing about it for a few days, I realized my mom was right.

So, I watch my son turn to listen to the sound of another adult's voice, fiddle with the lock on his high chair and zero in on his food. He is just as curious and determined and focused as he can be. It makes me think that if each of us could harness some of the curiosity, determination and focus of a child this year, what amazing things we could accomplish.

Tell me about what motivates you and what you've accomplished in your career by sending e-mail to mquan@cmp.com.