Many times coaches are praised or critisized about their ability or inability to motivate basketball players. Sometimes it may be a fair assessment, but I have found that the only motivation that has lasting effects is self-motivation. No other motivation lasts very long. I was asked recently before a game by a radio guy if last year's loss to a certain team would have any positive effects on our guys. I told him that I believe that if I used that kind of thing that it would be fake motivation. It is a kind of motivation that gets a kid up during pre game and at the jump ball. Two minutes into the game....all that hype is gone and you are playing the game.
Self motivation...it's that thing that gets you up and gets you back to work every day whether the day is sunny or overcast. I read recently in Hebrews chapter 12 about endurance and I thought it was insightful about how you are individually in life. In a nutshell: The key to persistence is passion. The key to passion is purpose. The key to purpose is perspective. With proper perspective you will define your purpose. Once you have that purpose it will be something that you will be passionate about. Once you have that passion, you will become persistent. Passion is the key to persistence!
