Usually my motivation is that I hate to lose. It really makes me sick when I play bad and lose matches that I could have easily won.
My other motivation is that I like money, especially winning money...which usually means a bit of gambling. Well, since I am living in my hometown, where pool is basically dead, there hasn't been much of that going on. I kind of feel like I have lost a bit of an edge or maybe a desire to win that I once had.
Last year I had the same problem. Life got tough (or real) and I almost gave up. I kept giving myself one more chance to shape up. I have to admit I kind of got away with not practice way more than I ever should have. Everytime I gave myself that one more chance, I did well. I guess I have to believe that something in my brain was telling me not to quit. I'm doubting that I will get away with this again in 2009.
So to end the year, I got this to remind me of the work and heart it takes to stick with something like pool, something that doesn't pay millions but takes pretty much all of your time to be good. Everytime I look at this, I remember that I can do it and I have the heart....I just need to get my lazy butt motivated!!Alright, now it's your turn....tell me what keeps you going or gets you going (keep it clean haha).
Love for the game. Love to get better at the game. Love to get better mentally in the game. Love to get better as a person through my pool mental game. Love to be the best person I can be which includes pool.
ReplyDeleteDigitalcrack
I gain motivation for pool in several ways. For one I travel alot to tulsa and memphis and play really good players for practice. Also Im teaching my nephew how to play. Teaching him also makes me want to learn more. I know what you mean about being in a dead town for pool. Little Rock is starved for a great pool hall. Also there needs to be more tournament worth playing in my area. This sometimes keeps me from being motivated with pool. Also I enjoy watching other players shoot pool. I learn alot by watching. This keeps me motivated when i learn something new. I play as many tournamens possible in my area. When I win my motivation sky rockets. Sometimes I write about what tournaments i played in and what games i won. This info is fun to read sometimes when my game seems down. Thats about it, take it easy from arkansas.
ReplyDeleteJay the arkansas kid Winn
you need to move. it's hard to get motivated when you're trying to do it all alone in a town that's pool dead.
ReplyDeletenyc has a great pool scene and i always feel motivated to play just by being in the scene. people i use to beat are getting better which forces me to have to up my game and watching great players play inspires me by seeing what's possible.
should i start looking for a place for you to live in nyc?
Motivation is a problem for me as well. As I approach the big 40, I am finding that I am missing out on things that I'd honestly rather do. For many years pool was a constant detractor for me. Now, I don't see it as important nor do I spend the time that I used to practicing.
ReplyDeleteOf course, my game has started to falter a bit but that's ok. It was a choice I had to make. I still love the game and will always compete but am just diving in to a few other areas of my life a little deeper. Who knows, one day the desire to excel at the game may come back but for now, I am ok with just playing and not worrying too much.
BTW, this is my first year to NOT go to the Derby and it does not really bother me that much. I must be losing it.
Best of luck Sarah, in whatever path you decide to travel.
Peace, MOJOE
Thank you all for your comments. It sounds like we all kind of have the same problem!
ReplyDeleteRaymond..it sounds like you really love pool. It's great that your love fuels your desire for it all so much.
JayWinn, you are lucky, you live somewhat in an area you can get to bigger tournaments and great players. That is the key to getting better. I have the idea that if you can come away from every tournament with just learning one new thing..you have made progress.
Jay..you know the plan...something will hopefully be in the works. I will definitely be in for a visit to the Big Apple.
Joe..not making it to DCC, how dare you! Just kidding, I know exactly what you mean. Pool can take over your life. One day you look back and realize maybe you should slow down and take things in a bit more. Good luck to you with whatever you choose as well!
IMHO, what should motivate you is going to depend on what your desired end result is. Myself, I'm very much a goal driven person. If I know I have a tournament coming up, I am usually pretty good about going down to the PH and getting some time in. My "goal" for that tournament is to give myself the best possible chance to win it. I've found that when I don't have that "goal" of preparing for the tournament, pool falls off of the radar. As long as I am as prepared as I can be, there isn't anything left to do but execute. For me, my confidence suffers when I don't give myself a fair shake by not putting in the time in beforehand. When confidence suffers, I lose motivation to practice. Nasty cycle. Remember the phrase INPUT = OUTPUT. The more you put into preparation, the more likely you are to get more out of it and reach your desired end state. (I say more likely because luck does play a factor. Sometimes it's just not your day.) Good luck up at the Derby this year Sarah. Have to wait yet another year to experience the spectacle that is the DCC.
ReplyDeletewill play pool for food
ReplyDeleteOne day when I was 15 I went to a pretty ugly place - filled with smoke and trashy people - and found something beautiful.
ReplyDelete