The psychology of self-motivation | Scott Geller | TEDxVirginiaTech

You are improving - they hold me responsible - If the teacher tells us that your level is improving, we will buy you better drums of a different type. Then drums of another type, then another, to complete the group. “And this was my vision, and he motivated me to do it: the results and the teacher came and he taught me like this, with his left hand. hand. That's how Buddy Rich used to play with his left hand and his right hand. Then he would show me moves, like a move called Flam. Can you hear that in the back?

He was showing me moves. I was only ten years old, remember? And when he showed me moves, I was amazed. He showed me that simple drum. Look at this (drums) and I practiced it and did it, I felt competent. He showed me the paradiddle move and said, “Listen...paradiddle...paradiddle” and he tells me, “Go home and practice. And next week I want to see you do it.” So I said, “Look at this” (drum). Then I said, “Look at this (drum), and he said, “That's a double parallel.” I haven't practiced it yet! "I was really ahead because I was motivated.

I felt competent. I was walking into Newburgh High School in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and I saw the music teacher say, 'I heard you were learning to play the drums,' and I said, 'Yes!' !' "My level is going up." And he said, "You can join the band, you can be one of the drummers." Wow! Then the teacher came in, and it was private, by the way, for two. dollars, and that was a long time ago, and he says, "Hey Scott, are you ready to do a drum roll? So I say, "Of course I'm ready for that." He then he says, "Look at this, Scott!" Come on, look at this." (Drum) I think for a moment and say, "Can you show me that again?" - “Scott, it's easy, look at me" (drums) “And now I want you to practice, and next week I want see you do it.” And next week he comes back and says, “What's with the drum roll?” ?” And I hesitate and say, "I can do a paradiddle." He says, "This is a step down from your level." Weeks passed and now we talk about anxiety.

Now we talk about apathy. Now we talk about learned helplessness. That's what psychologists call it. I remember walking in elementary school and seeing my music teacher saying, "Hey Scott, how are you? How's the impression?" "It's not good, I'm not good at the drum roll." He said like they do it. adults: "Don't say you can't be whatever you want, Scott." "I tried and tried, and I kind of gave up." He says, "Scott, when the move feels awkward, cut it. Cut, do you do a paradiddle move?"-"Yes!" (Drum)-"Well, what's the second beat?" - "Two beats" (drum) - "Yes, that's the drum roll, Scott Geller.

It's made up of two beats. (Drum)... go home and practice and say, “Mommy and Daddy" - remember, I was ten - “says dad and mom... Dad and mom... (Drum) It's the drum roll! I came back next week and said, 'Okay, dad Scott, I don't think you can.' play a drum roll." I said, "Look at this." (drum roll) He said, "Wow! How did you learn to do that?" So I showed it to my teacher. (Drums) I taught my teacher when I was ten years old. He said, 'I forgot, I used to do that.'" (Drums) "I forgot it's two drums." How to play the drum, Scott." There is a lesson.

Here we can always learn from each other. We need to have the humility to accept feedback and the courage to speak candidly. How do we give them the realization of the competition? that they realize the value of the choice and that they know their community. We are in this experience together and we need each other.