Do you struggle with motivation?

Do you struggle with motivation?

Look no further than Michael Jordan’s secret weapon.

Motivation is a powerful force.

It can drive us to achieve great things.

But it can also be elusive.

Motivation can come from a variety of sources.

A desire to improve oneself.

A sense of competition.

A personal challenge.

In sports, the ability to stay motivated at a high level often separates the great from the good.

One example is Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time.

Growing up in Chicago in the 80s and 90s, I idolized MJ.

It was the 1996 NBA Finals.

The Chicago Bulls versus the Seattle SuperSonics.

Jordan found motivation in a seemingly insignificant moment.

While at a restaurant, SuperSonics coach George Karl walked by Jordan’s table without saying hello.

MJ felt slighted.

“That’s a crock,” Jordan said.

“That’s all I needed for him to do that, and it became personal.”

This simple act was all it took for Jordan to find another gear of motivation to defeat Karl and his team.

MJ went on to lead the Bulls to victory in the Finals.

The story is not only a testament to his determination to win.

But Jordan’s ability to find motivation in even the smallest of things.

If MJ needed a spark to fuel his fire, he’d find it.

No matter how small or petty—he’d even sometimes make it up.

I, too, use a similar tactic.

I create imaginary enemies.

I picture an adversary.

They tell me I won’t achieve my goal.

Having an enemy fires me up.

It creates focus.

It makes me strive harder.

But in reality, it’s only me against me.

Struggling with motivation?

Create an enemy to fight – a “they.”

“They” don’t want you to skip that last cookie, finish that project, or win that new client.

Imaginary enemies can assist us in summoning the grit we need to triumph.

Even if, in truth, that “they” is within ourselves.

The best revenge is massive success.