This is an entirely different, more high-level problem (like software architecture vs. specific algorithms)
Commonly, some may have a short-term goal (get a promotion / climb the next step of the career ladder / finish university) which gives them intrinsic motivation in such a way that they can't rationally explain why they are attracted to that goal.
Motivation might be derived from responsibility towards others: Trying to get more done to have more time for kids / elderly parents / partner / hobbies / side-project startup idea.
"Feeling no purpose" however is a very common problem. There are coaching programs, retreats, therapy programs and books revolving around this topic.
It tends to be complex, and could be a learned behaviour pattern where one neglects their true intrinsic interests; undiagnosed depression; being in a field your parents forced you into which you have no intrinsic interest in, or a mixture of those and some others.
I agree that generally, the low-level optimization of flow states only makes sense once you have found your true calling.
I recently listened to the following talk by Csikszentmihályi, which I found useful: https://youtu.be/7Vfw7Du3XLU
These techniques can be applied anywhere. The goals are entirely personal, so you can’t expect to find them listed for you in someone else’s blog post.
The idea is that "finding flow" or spending your limited and valuable time in the flow state is an ideal way to live your life. It's enjoyable.
By definition, it's not an "end goal", but a life goal.
It’s a lot more enjoyable and “flow”y to get stoned and watch YouTube all day everyday but I know that’s not what he’s talking about. I want to know what’s so great about the work and personal lives of these productivity guru guys. Seems like they all just make another data analytics tool, AI toys, or write blogs for each other.
Sure there are people that make a living from marketing self-help. Some of them might even really enjoy it.
But flow as defined in the book "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience" by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi[0], is "a state of concentration or complete absorption with the activity at hand and the situation." In the book, it gives a few guide rails. Just enjoying something is different from it being in the sweet spot of challenging you, triggering growth, enabling you to learn something new or achieve something.
Of course that could come from selling your book or making a YouTube video, but instead of focusing on other people, and their motivations, and what they get out of whatever they're doing, the whole point is to figure out where you are really in a flow state that you personally find fulfilling, and would want to repeat. If you can't find that, then forget about, ignore all the information out there, and find a different life goal to pursue.
I want to focus on this because I don’t believe in the idea of an authentic self and I want to know how anyone can find something that makes them feel this way, or at least how they can trick themselves into thinking some boring topic like writing productivity advice blogs can feel meaningful. Put this guy’s birth in 1800 and I’m sure he won’t feel any sense of loss because he can’t write anymore.