Work When No One Is Looking

There are moments in every person’s life when they feel like quitting. There are moments where we are tempted to slack off a little bit and let up. There are moments in the off-season where we ‘put off’ working and preparing for what is coming up next. And there are moments when we work hard only because we know other people are watching.

But what sets a person apart from being successful and mediocre is if and when they work when no one is looking. Is there an internal motivating factor that drives them to prepare and train even when there is no outside force acting upon them? Finding that internal motivating factor is the important first step: Is it a drive to be the best in your position? To provide for and protect those that you love? Make it to the top? A sense of calling or passion? Finding the passion and internal motivation to work when no one is looking is a key to success and improvement.

Every February and March, college football teams often do ‘winter conditioning’ which prepares them for their upcoming ‘Spring Ball’ a month of practice where they have an opportunity to compete against each other and inch toward earning starting spots. But before the players even step on the field, the months of weight lifting and conditioning determine how well a player will perform on the field.

The winter conditioning often takes place early in the morning, sometimes five or six o’clock in the morning, and involves different conditioning drills; sprints, ladders and other football related training drills. Often times garbage cans are set around the gym or workout area for those that made the mistake of eating too big of a breakfast. Part of the goal is to weed out or challenge those that think that football is a ‘soft’ sport. In the end, it brings the players together and gives them a sense of accomplishment and it allows the ‘Spring Ball’ time to focus on skill and team development.

Those times of winter conditioning, done when no one else is looking and no media or fans are present, display the work ethics and motivation of many players. Coaches begin to see who pushes through when things get tough and who folds when the work gets too hard. Having internal motivation, whatever it might be, drives athletes to continue through tough situations. Do you work hard when no one is looking? What is your internal motivator?