Does "fear of losing" motivate you?

[Mike Pulcinella]

In my bodybuilding documentary Raising the Bar, Dave Pulcinella, a few weeks before the big contest, answers the question "What motivates you?" this way...



"What motivates me?? Fear of losing. It CAN NOT happen!"







Many other BB competitors have told me that they identify with that statement. What strikes me as strange is that it mentions "losing", a negative concept that I didn't think competitors would embrace.







And then I read in Time magazine that Rachel Maddow, the tough, controversial and very successful MSNBC talk show host admits that, "...her driving force is a fear of failure"!







I began to wonder if that was a motivating force for many successful people. Is that true for you or do you find motivation other ways?

[Bossman]

What motivates me is the fear of not coming in at my best. Bodybuilding is such an individual sport. I have no control over the other competitors, just control over myself.

[Jakt]

yeah, def one factor of motivation..........

[jnewton86]

to an extent it does. i look at it as, " what makes me so different from the rest of the bbders out there doin the same thing?" and its always the same thing, i love it and have dedicated my life to it. BY the way, im assuming you film the movies, very motivational

[FireGuy]

What motivates me is the fear of not coming in at my best. Bodybuilding is such an individual sport. I have no control over the other competitors, just control over myself.

Well stated, whenever I do a show I always measure my success by the improvements I have made. Same goes for when I do contest prep for anyone. If they did not cheat on their diet, did every minute of cardio that was scheduled they have already won. The worst I ever placed in a show was 5th and that was by far the best conditioning I had ever achieved. I always tell people, if you win it does not mean you are the best, it just means no one better showed up (unless you are competing in the Olympia).

[vishus]

^^^ thats so true, i did my first show last may an placed second in teens and 5th in novice light heavys....i didnt miss a meal, cardio, or training session. its true that hard work pays off. but fear of LOSING doesnt motivate me, my motivation is like cgb6810 stated, i want to look my best, better than the year before and to know that when i look in the mirror, i feel like i did my best. its all individual

[Maverick_J8]

I don't compete so cannot relate in that aspect. But socially, it's pretty much plays it's part. I want to look and be the best I can possibly be. I want to be the one that stands out in the crowd. The one who stands out with pure commitment and dedication as one of his traits. And when i'm the best i can possibly be; when i'm working my ass off and others are not... it shows. Big time.

And without looking to the externals too much, that influences confidence in a big way.

[youngNhungry]

What motivates me, not just in lifting or bodybuilding, is not the fear of losing but rather an emence sense of necessity, pride, discipline, and accomplishment. I associate fear with helplessness and lack of control in your own environment. When in a state of fear you have lost everything. I found that fear is mostly a sense of perception. If I don't acknowledge environmental elements as threatening or out of my control, there is no fear in my world. I'm in control of my total level of conditioning and the environment that I achieve it in. If I don't execute what it takes to achieve a goal or win, thats because I didn't do what was necessary. I do what it takes to accomplish a fitness goal not through fear but through necessity.

[amcon]

their is two ways to motivate people one - pleasure, two - fear of loss or pain of loosing

[SayNoToDrugs]

How do I post my own thread????

[amcon]

go to forum home, pick a catagory(anabolic steroids for an example) it will take you to the next page and hit the button that says new thread - remember to place your question in the correct catagory - good luck

[Maverick_J8]

What motivates me, not just in lifting or bodybuilding, is not the fear of losing but rather an emence sense of necessity, pride, discipline, and accomplishment. I associate fear with helplessness and lack of control in your own environment. When in a state of fear you have lost everything. I found that fear is mostly a sense of perception. If I don't acknowledge environmental elements as threatening or out of my control, there is no fear in my world. I'm in control of my total level of conditioning and the environment that I achieve it in. If I don't execute what it takes to achieve a goal or win, thats because I didn't do what was necessary. I do what it takes to accomplish a fitness goal not through fear but through necessity.

VERY well put. I echo every word.

[youngNhungry]

Thanks maverick, I don't think that a competitor in any sport will ever accomplish jack if fear is the only thing that motivates them to success. You train dogs through fear, pain, and reward because there level off intellegence does not comprehend accomplishment through necessity except in cases of procreation and food/water seeking. The human mind is far beyond that of a dog's. And we are manipulating their actions to achieve a desired result. As competitors, we are responsible for our outcomes in competition. Thats why we don't beat ourselves with a stick if we didn't squeeze out that last rep. Thats why dogs have trainers and I don't need one. Not taking a stab at those persons who use a PT, though. I respect the hell out of trainers who guide people to a life of fitness. Also, don't think that I believe that I haven't gained knowledge or sought advice from others, that would be totally narcicistic(sp). I just don't need someone to facilitate my time in the Gym thats all.

[Brown Ninja]

^^^^All excellent points. I do not compete as a BB'er but my personal feeling has always been that those in life that are successful have a drive and determination that most people cannot comprehend. It's a winners mind set that refuses to be beat or not give your best. Some are driven by fear of failure where some are driven by money or personal recognition. At the end of the day I don't think it matters what drives you but simply the fact that you are driven.

[youngNhungry]

I hate the thought of others living in motivation through fear. Its a self-terroristic mindset. Just consider how people who live under the control of terrorist rule feel. The make every move in there lives according to the fearsome power bodies that loom over their heads at any given moment. Now, imagine taking that same principal which I applied to society and put it in the perspective of an individual's relationship with themselves. I can't see why anyone would want to put themselves in a mindset where fear is there motivation to success. I don't know anyone who would prefer to have their own lives controlled by the terroristic rule of there own mind. The old famous quote, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." -FDR Yeah, you could probably see that one coming.

[Bossman]

their is two ways to motivate people one - pleasure, two - fear of loss or pain of loosing

I think there are many ways to motivate people. It's an individual thing. Im motiviated by money, in some cases. Sometimes Im motivated by sex. Be surprised what I'd do to catch a little nookie.,