Why do some become great in their areas of endeavor and others mediocre?
Why is it that some men have reached the stature of Carnegie and Hughes in business, Reeves and Scott in bodybuilding, and Anderson in power lifting?
Indeed, the question of why some men become successful and others not has plagued man for centuries, and the variables that contribute to success are so numerous that only an exhaustive study would give the answer.
Here, he cites this book for further reading
then carries on with the article:
Achievement need is a learned motivation to compete and push for success. It's all quite funny, this belief that seeking something supposedly "better" (invariably ego-based) is "natural" but then, because almost any activity from bodybuilding to managing an organization can be viewed in terms of competition and success versus failure, and the need to achieve influences individuals in a large number of diverse situations.
Because achievement is a learned motive, there are wide differences among individuals in their experience and therefore in their motivation with respect to achievement.
Let's discuss motivation and its importance.
Oops.
There are different conceptions about motivations; however, there is general agreement that a motive is an internal factor that arouses, directs, and integrates a person's behavior.
Motivation is distinguished from other factors that also influence behavior, such as the past experience of the person, his physical capabilities, and the environment he finds himself in, although these other factors may influence motivation.
There are two important components of a motive. First, drive, which refers to the internal process that goads a person into action. Second, a motive is terminated by reaching a goal or obtaining a reward. Many psychologists add that motivation also includes a conscious desire for something. This is sometimes called a want.
A want is related to the goal-selecting functions of motives. An example of this want is that of a bodybuilder's desire for a championship physique or a weightlifter's desire for a 1400-lb. total.
The motives we will discuss are called social motives, and they involve people being with people, winning their approval, having a good time with them although they're still alive afterwards, and of course enhancing one's self-esteem with them, through them or inside of them in various degrees and in a multitude of body locations.
Social motives are personal, they feel as if they come from within, some sort of internalization has taken place. The motives are usually in reference to the person himself: "I want the approval of the people I know," or, "It is my need to achieve."
A psychologist by the name of Allport (Gordon W.) has come to the conclusion that only those activities that are personalized or ego-involved will persist. Numerous experiments show that human subjects will perform better on a task if they are ego-involved in it. There are several terms that are used to describe this internal factor which seems so important in social motivation. The terms ego and self are often used.
People vary a great deal in their sense of self. (My favorite people to view and listen to are ego-bloated folks who sorely lack experience, talent and effort BUT make up for it with wildly unrealistic levels of self-confidence and importance. Always a pleasure.).
Some people grow up seeing themselves as inadequate, while others see themselves as basically good and worthy of respect. Most people try to keep their sense of self at the highest level possible (and tend to be a pain-in-the-ass to be around. Don't get too-too carried away with your illusions and beliefs, Sport . . . you're a human animal on the putrefaction list; all the memories in all the minds of living people won't change the fact that you no longer exist. Please get over your "self" and leave the dead alone already with your tiresome memories. Let fucking go of all that, or not).
Anyhow, no matter, here's to the eventual bloating, marbling and liquification of our organs that brings joy to worms and little else. This desire to maintain or establish a positive evaluation of the self operates as a powerful motive. It helps explain why some people will endure physical hardships, hunger, and pain because of pride of self.
Ya gotta love the human ego and ALL its self-protective qualities. I mean, really now? . . . we're the chosen ones who know how it all came to be, what's in charge and how to communicate with this "what". NOW we're talkin' unfounded enormous pride of ego to the point of mass madness and, personally, I love the insanity inherent in all our frightened minds.
Okay, nuffa that crap.
Here's a related, quick Q&A:
Q: Why do some men become great in the weight game and others only fair?
Vince Gironda: First and foremost is the individual's ability to concentrate on a singleness of purpose. This is an ability to see straight through to a desired goal and know how to achieve it.
An example would be Larry Scott (he sure gets trotted out a lot in discussions of this type). He would work out at 5 o'clock when the gym was packed with people talking and working out. Larry would get a good workout every time because he knew what he wanted and was determined to get it.
Q: Are there any other observations you've made about the attitude of bodybuilders in your years of experience?
A: Yes, you must have confidence in your selection of exercise. This is related to the self-discipline I've been talking about. Hang on . . .
"Every time people ask me how I got big I tell them, "I did everything that Vince told me not to do."
- Don Howorth
Nuffa that.
This was fun.
Enjoy Your Lifting!
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