I totally agree with this post, though my strategy involves a lot more reverse engineering – which helps me to set priorities on my “next steps” and makes my time/motivation investments more focused.
Not all things pay off equally, so I try to identify the things that build up most.

For example, I want to get into that uber-uber grad program in a few years from now – so I wrote a fictional application that would wow those people.
Looking at this plan, I actually saw the geometric progression you mentioned –
For example, getting that terrific research position
is a consequence of impressing the right people
is a consquence of doing impressive work at a project
is a consequence of joining the right student research club
Is a consequence of simply researching.
And it was the same thing with all those impressive achievements. Actually, some of them were consequences of the very same things.

If I hadn’t done this reverse engineering, I might have joined a different club, spent that time taking a relevant class – done things that are good for my application,too, but they don’t really build up that much, they are too short-timed.

Sure, life doesn’t always go according to plans (thank God for that), but choosing things that open up doors is certainly my personal way to realise my dreams.
And right now, I’m doing pretty well with that.

It isn’t really too much motivation more than it is uncontrolled, unfocused motivation. You’d be surprised how common it is.