Michael Jordan is regarded as one of the greatest athletes in the history of sports, and not solely because the NBA legend was a sensational athlete. Jordan was a motivational guru who used even the most benign of comments from others to stoke his competitive fire. After Washington's LaBradford Smith scored 37 points on Jordan and said, "Good game, Mike," Jordan famously raged at the perceived slight before scoring 36 points in one half of a rematch against Smith. And even if you're no Michael Jordan, you can employ similar motivation tactics to gain an edge in your sporting endeavors.
Goal Setting
Athleticism and skill go a long way in sports, but so, too, does setting a series of finish lines. Just as it does in business, school and other segments of life, setting goals provides focus on the task along with the ability to specifically gauge your success. To wit: in a 2006 study at the University of Wales published in the 2006 summer edition of the "Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis," rugby players who engaged in detailed goal setting and reviews of goal achievement won 70 percent of matches -- compared to a 50 percent victory rate by others. Goals vary widely and can be something as simple as scoring a basket per game to going undefeated. Choose ones that are both realistic and ambitious.
Other Rewards
Points and wins aren't the only rewards you can use to motivate yourself in sports. If you're a high school player, your performance can earn you a college scholarship worth six figures. If you're already in college, use your professional dreams to motivate yourself. And if you're simply a weekend warrior, strive to shed those extra pounds or for the rewarding feeling that comes with getting the better of your opponent or topping your previous accomplishments.
The Jordan Method
Gatorade's long-running advertising campaign told you to "Be like Mike." You may not be able to slam dunk or pile championship rings like Jordan, but you can borrow his motivational tactics. When talk centered on Portland's Clyde Drexler surpassing him in 1992, Jordan raged his way to 35 first-half points. Seek out anything you can use to feel disrespected, whether it's an opposing coach's comment, your ranking or even a casual look on the opponent's face. Stew on it until you've convinced yourself that you've been personally insulted, and keep the thought in the back of your mind while you compete.
Team and School Pride
You're not only playing for yourself, but often you're playing for your school or community as well. There's a reason rivalry games are often hotly contested even when one side has superior talent: the players are fired up because they don't want to lose to their rivals. This can be carried over to something as casual as an intramural flag football game between a couple of fraternities. Even in a pick-up game in basketball, pride comes with knowing your team got the best of the opposition, which can be used as a motivational tactic.
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