the music video for "motivation" was directed by sarah chatfield, at the end of march 2011. frank gatson served as the video's chroegrapher. speaking during roberto cavalli's fashion show, rowland said she was on the look out for "womanly, sexy designs" for a "feminine sexy video." she elaborated on the development of the video during an interview when mtv news' jocelyn vena. she told vena, "we came up with the energy, and with frank [gatson] — and i don't know how he sees something, but he got it... i'm so thankful i have a great team that's thinking 10 steps ahead of me. with sarah she understood; she got the concept. it was great the way everything came together." the video made its world premiere on bet's "106 & park" on april 4, 2011.