Drive + Competitiveness

Aaron McKie, the former NBA player and now head coach of his alma mater, Temple University, shares a powerful story in this video from his grandfather.

It has crucial lessons we all can draw from.

“My grandfather walked 10 miles to work every day, my father walked five," McKie says.

"I'm driving a Cadillac, my son is in a Mercedes, and my grandson will be in a Ferrari. My great-grandson will be walking again."

McKie then asked his grandfather why?

“Tough times create strong men," his grandpa told him. "Strong men create easy times, easy times create weak men, weak men create tough times. Many will not understand, but you have to raise warriors.”

McKie's grandfather was sharing a crucial formula with his grandson that applies to just about all of us.

Competitiveness + Drive = Never walking again

As leaders, we frequently search for people who are highly competitive and motivated.

We assume motivation provides drive, but that's not always the case. Motivation is a desire, something we want to achieve. Drive, however, is how far we are willing to tax our bodies and minds to conquer what lies ahead.

Solely being competitive won't allow us to get where we want to go. We need an added level of fuel to truly reach our highest points.

What McKie's grandfather was sharing with his grandson was that those who can combine drive and competitiveness succeed, regardless of what car they drive or if they walk to work.

The walks in his case fueled a drive, a relentlessness coming from his inner-self to achieve more. Aristotle believed the key to human happiness was to practice virtues in order to reach eudaimonia. Aristotle's theory of virtue posited that people accomplish happiness through their own efforts, not by relying on others or external factors such as wealth and good fortune.

Having a high level of drive is never about a car, home or cash in the bank. It’s all about us.

When we find what drives us, then we all become the Warrior.

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