The Drive to Win

In a sport as mentally and physically exhausting as the UFC, there are many things one has to do in order to be successful. For some, it is simply their determination to become a winner.

Photo creds: Business Insider

Hard work will get you just about anywhere in life, no matter what your end goal is. Whether it's related to sports or not, if you put in the effort, chances are you'll succeed. For famed UFC fighter, Conor McGregor, it is more than just hard work. It is simply being obsessed with what you love to do.

"There's no talent here, this is hard work. This is an obsession. Talent does not exist, we are all equals as human beings. You could be anyone if you put in the time. You will reach the top, and that's that. I am not talented, I am obsessed." - Conor McGregor

This was a quote I saw a while ago from Conor and it really stuck with me since. In both terms of being a fighter and in life. If you think about it from a fighters standpoint, nobody is born with the knowledge of being able to punch or kick at an elite level and I'm certain nobody is born being able to know the in-and-out of a triangle choke or an arm-bar. So in fighting terms, yes everyone is born just about equal. There may be some slight physical advantages such as height, arm reach, or abnormally long legs but a majority of the time, those factors are eliminated due to weight classes. Everyone in your perspective weight is relatively the same, give or take a few physical differences.

"...You could be anyone if you put in the time."

If you steer away from fighting and look at the big picture, this quote can resonate with you on many different levels. If you want to become talented at anything you do, become obsessed with it. Let it take over your life in a positive way and find every method possible to become better at it. When you think you are the best, evaluate and become even better. There is always room for improvement in anything you do, no matter how talented you think you are. There is no cap at how talented you can become at something, so if you really want it, go out and chase it.

Conor is living proof of this quote. For those that do not know his backstory, Conor was actually a plumber living off welfare checks in Ireland when he became a UFC fighter. He was essentially poor, fighting literally to survive day to day. He would go to work by day, then train for his fights at night all so he could one day be in the UFC and compete at the highest level. He not only succeeded at his goal, but became one of the highest paid and most popular fighters the sport has seen. All because he was obsessed.

So for those out there that are striving for any goal, let it consume you. Let it become a part of you. Become obsessed with it and be the greatest version of yourself that you can be. Just like anything in life, there always has to be balance. So, set your priorities, find what you want to succeed at and constantly strive to improve. No matter how talented you think you might be at something, there is always room for improvement.