We’ve reached the M in my D.R.E.A.M. acronym. The M stands for Motivation. What gets you out of bed in the morning? What is the focus of your life? Why do you work or go to school?
In two short weeks is the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro in Birmingham, Ala. It’s the crown jewel of fishing tournaments. I bet many of you would say that qualifying for the Classic is your Motivation. For a lot of you — and me — the Bassmaster Classic is a lifelong dream.
But competing in the Bassmaster Classic is really not the end-all-be-all of what motivates you. The Classic is an accomplishment — a goal. We have to determine what our Motivation is and keep that in mind to give every day our best. Knowing our Motivation is especially important because we will hit snags. Motivation helps us be Determined, to use our Resources, exert Effort and keep a positive Attitude. Then we are living our D.R.E.A.M.
You can set daily, weekly and annual goals to help you do your best, but successful people have an overarching goal in mind. That’s your Motivation. I like what coach Pat Riley said: “There’s always the motivation of wanting to win. Everybody has that. But a champion needs, in his attitude, a motivation above and beyond winning.”
As a man of Faith, my Motivation is to serve God and help other people become their best. Making the Classic is just a part of that Motivation. If I am supposed to make the Classic, it will happen. I would dare say we might be able to influence a few new people with a Classic appearance!
Take some time to reflect on what your life is about and then write down your Motivation. If it is to make the Bassmaster Classic, then you have to do everything with the most effort you can muster. You’ve got to put the time in on the water. You’ve got to step out there and fish with and against anglers that may be better than you. You have to have the best equipment and know how to use it. I feel so blessed to have the sponsors behind me that I do: ORCA Coolers, Ranger Boats, Mercury, Strike King, Lucas Marine, Castaway Rods, Berkley Trilene, Optima Batteries, Power Pole, Abu Garcia, Flambeau Outdoors and Keelshield allow me to be my best on the water.
Next week 55 anglers will compete in the Bassmaster Classic. If you ask any of them how they got there, you will quickly find out that they have Motivation. They are all living their dreams … and you can too!
So now you know my D.R.E.A.M. acronym.
Remember: If I can, you can. God bless.
Clay Dyer’s column appears monthly on Bassmaster.com. You can also find him on Twitter and Facebook or visit his website, www.claydyer.net.
