Characteristics of Championship Players and Teams
Champions tend to have a few common denominators. Running the ball and playing good defense used to be chief among them. Today some might say it's first downs gained and generating takeaways on defense. Either way, commonalities exist between those at the top.
But let's step away from the data. Let's set aside our new obsession with analytics. Let's turn away from the numbers for a moment.
More abstract characteristics have shown themselves in the way that championship players and teams approach the game. And between players and teams, a two-fold characteristic seems to rise to the top and it's true for every champion: self-determined motivation that translates into meaningful action.
Let's look at these terms in real life:
Championship players: If your coach has to track you down for you to put work in, don’t be upset when you get replaced by someone who tracks down your coach looking for work. Go be great on your own.
Championship players understand this.
Championship teams: Teams who aren’t sure if they can win a championship have to be asked/told to show up and put the work in. Teams that know they have what it takes show up on their own looking for work.
Championship teams understand this.
In each example, self-determined motivation is turned into meaningful action. The motivation to put in the work needs to be intrinsic, not extrinsic. And meaningful action needs to be focused on the right things. These things are simple, but they are not easy.
Championship players and teams don't want to be average, or even good. They want to be great. And they do so by pairing their self-determined motivation with meaningful action. When intrinsic motivation is developed and proper action is taken, greatness awaits you.
Chase greatness.