'self-motivator' originates from the combination of 'self' and 'motivate,' where 'self' refers to one's own person and 'motivate' means to provide a reason or incentive to act.

'self-motivator' evolved from the concept of 'self-motivation,' which has been used in psychological contexts to describe intrinsic motivation.

Initially, it referred to the ability to motivate oneself, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.