The people we work with want to get better. Better at poling a canoe in whitewater, better at lighting fires by friction, better at using an axe efficiently, etc. During our programs we work with them daily to achieve this. But training skills and abilities are only half of the equation; the other half is desire and motivation.

One of my oldest friends is a hockey coach at Boston College. He was interviewed about the development of young players, and here’s his take on it:

The desire to get better is just as important as the ability to get better. It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a long time and it takes constant work. Practice your skills when you’re a little tired or you don’t quite feel like it. You don’t want to skip those times or you’ll be taking away your ability to be as good as you can be.

– Greg Brown, Boston College (from mahockey.org)

Motivation and desire to improve is crucial to achieving a higher level of skill. It’s what keeps you putting in the work. It’s true in bushcraft, it’s true in sports, it’s true in life.