This makes me think about why baseball players work hard or perhaps why they don’t. I know we have been ARoded out, but hear me out. If he didn’t sign such an enormous contract, would he have felt the pressure to succeed as much as if he did not sign such an enormous contract? I mean, would he play with his raw talent, for better or for worse? Would he draw off the passion of playing instead of feeling the need to be perfect, the best?
According to the book Drive by Dan Pink, former White House speechwriter and motivational speaker and author, a study of artists in the 1960s showed that “a concern for outside rewards might actually hinder eventual success.” “Painters and sculptors who were intrinsically motivated, those whom the joy of discovery and challenge of creation were their own rewards, were able to weather the tough times.” Hmmm- so the guys that were commissioned to paint or sculpt for someone else saw this as work or a job and were not as creative and could not make “their best work” because of the pressure to perform.
Is this why guys like ARod felt the pressure to do well, so much pressure that they will resort to do anything to please their bosses and gain notoriety?
Interesting thought, but what about the guys who produce because they are intrinsically motivated to do so- for the love of the game? With the Olympic Games upon us, I point to an example of Gold Medalist Mark Spitz who swam in two Olympic Games earning nine gold medals, one silver and one bronze. Spitz is quoted as saying, “I’m trying to do the best I can. I’m not concerned with tomorrow, but with what goes on today.”
He went on to win seven gold medals in one Olympic Games, a feat beat only just recently by our very own Olympian Michael Phelps.
According to the newly published book, The Champion’s Mind-How Great Athletes Think, Train, and Thrive, author and sports psychologist Dr. Jim Afremow states, “recognize that there are some moments during competition that require iron self-discipline, but there are other moments where it is best to take a breather.” A champion knows when to say when. He or she is intrinsically motivated to win for the sake of winning but knows when it’s time to take a break from the sport and just be.
A careful balance of both is the correct chemistry for the ultimate champion- people like Derek Jeter, who stated “if you’re not playing the way you’re used to,” Jeter said, “you’re not helping,” and love or hate him Mark Teixeira who will not admit to being 100% just yet and is taking the time to be ready, both physically and mentally. These are the champions who work hard, play hard and know when to say when.
There is something to be said for New York Yankee Drive and Masahiro Tanaka. He's chosen to be a Yankee... we will see this right away. There is a certain expectation to live up to- something that only legends can upkeep- guys like Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, Don Mattingly, Mariano Rivera and yes, Derek Jeter know very well.
New York Yankee Drive – the love of the game, the love of the fans, the thrill to win and the adrenaline rush you get when you have all three. A champion is one who “organizes his/her life around their dreams-and watches them come true.” And a real, hardcore Yankee, is that kind of champion- with the drive to win and the patience to know when to let go.
--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Opinion Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof
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