text: how to motivate dumb people?   okay.  there is a misunderstanding here.  "dumb" people, or "unintelligent" people, for our purposes, are not necessarily unmotivated.  some of them work very hard and really care about what they can/cannot do.  they make an effort to the best of their ability, which is admirable.  i think you're talking about slackers, people who might be able to do well but just don't put in the effort.  and well, it's hard to motivate them.  they sort of have to find the motivation themselves.  you could take away privileges, the time-old method, but a lot of times that will just make them angry and they will be even worse.  try encouraging them, telling them what they could be capable of if they tried.  if they don't care, well, they don't care -- at least not yet.  my feeling is that somewhere along the line, maybe middle school, maybe high school, maybe college if they go... they'll find the motivation themselves.  they're not going to believe anything you say until they discover for themselves.