Impact Of Ego Orientation & Doing Things For Rewards

Elite athletes sometimes avoid practicing skills they're bad at because they fear embarrassment. This is known as having rabbit ears and it affects performance. Incentives and praise can also undermine motivation and love for the craft. The story of an old man and kids playing football illustrates this. To succeed, athletes need to prioritize love of the game over external rewards and recognition. The shift from mastery to ego can be detrimental, but athletes who embrace mastery and overcome embarrassment can excel.