I learned a long time ago when coaching baseball that you can’t motivate a player to do something they don’t want to do. They either have the inner drive or they don’t. I’d tell players and their parents at the first team meeting that “progress happens outside of practice.” If you want to have success on the field, compete, and get better, you need to do more than just show up to games and practices. Athletes who get the most out of their ability do the extra things necessary to take their game to the next level. They not only have the tools to succeed but the hunger to push themselves to be better.
Hunger is another one of our core values at Revel. Simply put, hungry people never have to be pushed to work harder. They are self-motivated. They always think about the next step and the next opportunity. They want more. On top of that, hungry people love winning.
According to best-selling author Patrick Lencioni’s consultancy, The Table Group, there are three primary reasons why a person might be hungry:
1. Natural Hunger
Some people are predisposed to being hungry, either because they have a personality that is inclined to hard work, or because they were raised in an environment that instilled a strong work ethic. Even without external motivation, these people will go above and beyond.
2. Passion for the Mission
Some people are not naturally hungry, but develop hunger because they are personally connected to the purpose of the organization or department where they work. For these people, it becomes extremely important to help them identify that passion and remind them of the mission regularly.
3. Affection for the Team
Some people are neither naturally hard-working nor passionate about an organization’s cause, but find their hunger in their desire to serve their teammates. These people simply don’t want to let down their colleagues, and they are motivated by facilitating the appreciation of others on the team.
Whatever your motivation is, the bottom line is you need to put in the work to improve. There aren’t any cheat codes. More times than not, it’s just wanting it more that makes the difference between settling for the status quo and taking a giant leap forward.
