If you’re doing something only because you want the result, that’s said to be “just a means to your end” - but it occurs to me the opposite case is also valid.
I have engaged in Project-Based Learning a number of times. Sometimes the result of the project wasn’t even all that interesting to me, but it was the motivation I needed to undertake the pursuit. One example was a calculator I built in React, which wasn’t of any real use, but it gave my exploration into the React framework some direction. It focused what could have otherwise been aimless meandering. It caused me to find barriers and push through them. It was just an end to my means.
Other examples:
- wanting to make a great Instagram album, because you want to do the things that it would take to do to make the album.
- creating a doodle on a new drawing app, or 3D modeling something in your room for no reason other than to learn CAD
Source
- self