Thomas Schelling won the Nobel prize in economics. That's the type of guy we want helping us through our sporting challenges. Really? Well, at least, those were my thoughts today as I searched the web on ways to motivate myself to getup in the morning to workout (noting that as this article goes out I've finished my workout). Well, in my search I fell on some of Scelling's work (JSTOR: The American Economic ReviewVol. 68, No. 2 (May, 1978), pp. 290-294, V22N3P251_269.pdf).
So, how am I relating Schelling's work to Ultimate? Well, the thing I found interesting is how he related my morning wake up routine as a battle between morning Peter and evening Peter. Both characters seem rational when I meet them, so like many habits in life, the question is how do I motivate one person to do the other persons bidding. In the morning, the habit evening Peter thinks is great is an early morning workout. Morning Peter thinks sleep is a great activity that is the best choice.
Some of the motivations I've come tried for the Egonomics of the morning are:
- Going to bed early enough (helps)
- Moving the alarm across the room (doesn't work)
- Paying myself (doesn't work)
- Winner! Getting a workout partner to make you want to be there ( I miss you Kirk)
For example, there's the prefer to miss practice versus getting to practice early Peter (not a big challenge in my game, but challenging for some). There's the loose playing throw away Peter versus the tight focused Peter. There's the one more chinup Peter to the give up Peter, and don't forget the dangerous serious tournament Peter who sleeps early versus 8 beers won't hurt my game Jeters.
The challenges of life and Ultimate have a number of similarities. I enjoyed Schelling's thoughts on the dualities each person takes, and a categorization of why we may behave irrational, with respect to another of our states, under certain conditions. What was missing from his work, for me, was some good tactics or exercises that can help you. Any ideas for good carrot and sticks?
PJ versus Peter
2 comments:
Pete,
8 beers will never hurt your game. Honest. It's fine. You'll be a superstar on Sunday...
I too miss my workout partner and the great workouts. It's critical to have a workout partner than pushes you. Right when you want to stop running or stop lifting, you see that they are pushing for another lap or adding another plate to the deck. Any competitive fool has no choice but to belly-up and push harder. Only a select few are capable of pushing themselves in that way, and I'm certainly not one of them.
Great discussion of dualities. Part of the trick is having specific tourneys where the evil alter ego can run free (e.g. No Borders, Jazzfest and ... um ... Texas Shootout where the Salt Lick charms out the worst in us). This helps me focus for tourneys where there is no room (or less room, anyway) for shenanigans.
You'll be missed in Florida this year.
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