There is a certain edge to people who are violently pursuing something. We give several names to people like this to differentiate them from the rest of the population, but we seldom separate them into distinct categories. We call them motivated, inspiring, active, exciting, stimulating, driven, crazy, busy, crazy-busy, intense, committed. Sometimes they are forceful, compelling, desperate, workaholic, work horses and they put themselves or force others to put their nose to the grindstone. The main similarity is that they are actively pursuing a goal. They get stuff done. My brother would say that without these people nothing would ever get done. He might be right. But I'd like to categorize these people into four groups.
Desperate and running from something (DeRF) | Desperate and running toward something (DeRT)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Driven and running from something (DriRF) | Driven and running toward something (DriRT)
Driven vs. Desperate
Both have something that wakes them up early. Both have something that keeps them up late. Both are consumed with improving beyond what is "normal". Both are putting forth tremendous effort to make things move, to win, to achieve, to leave a mark. Driven is effortfulness, trying to win the game and improve so you can win the next one regardless of the outcome of this one. Desperate is effortfulness, trying not to lose the game then training harder so you don't lose the next one. They both get results, but one cannot be sustained forever, it is draining. The other gets stronger over time and finds new energy in the challenge. Driven is ahead of the curve. Desperate is behind the 8 ball.
Any day of the week you'd rather be driven. But sometimes desperation is just what you need to get the ball rolling. It's much better than complacency or indifference after all!
Desperate people have a goal, but it's often an anti-goal (e.g. I will not lose this house/game/account/etc.) or a negative goal (e.g. I will show him.). Other times it's a good goal gone bad but the ship is sinking. They are looking for a win but often are repelling the very people who can help them make it happen for them because of the frenetic energy that they display. No bones about it though, they are going to move heaven and earth to make it happen or burn out trying. This can be a good short term state to be in (because you get things done that need done gettin'), but long-term it is unhealthy.
DeRF's tend to be have the anti-goals. They are obsessed about some impending doom and can't stop to think about anything else. In the corporate world they are often middle managers and self-employed (because they don't want to work for someone else or the business is on the verge of failure and they are on the treadmill). They are driven to complete a project but only because they don't want to lose their job or the status they have attached to owning their own company. Occasionally they are courageous people stuck in a bad circumstance. This can be dangerous like a caged tiger it can spur them to action to solve problems in new ways or move on from untenable situations, but it can also lead to unethical behavior at times through the "desperate times call for desperate measures" mentality.
I was a DeRF when I was a student. I was working two jobs. One was a night shift where I would go to class on Thursday, then to work all night and straight back to class on Friday. I was running from bills and didn't have the wherewithal to make more money some other way, but was too prideful to let my mother help any more than she already was (running from feelings of inadequacy).
DeRT's tend to be the type with good goals gone bad or sudden difficult situations. They are either in a field they used to like with current circumstances they don't like, or they are in a field they don't like and are running to a temporary endpoint (all I have to do is put in one more year and there will be a big payout, if I can just sell 100 more X's we'll at least break even). Many single mothers are in this class. They are desperate for a temporary goal of paying for Johnnie's College etc.. DeRT's are unstable like DeRF's, but there is usually an endgame in sight. There is light at the end of the tunnel and it's not an oncoming train.
I was a DeRT when I was paying off my student debt. I was in a job I didn't love, but I was putting in extra hours whenever I could because I believed in my endgame. I was up early not because I couldn't wait to get to work, but because I was running toward a future I believed in. My job was a temporary means to an end. It payed more than the job I wanted to do.
Driven people have a goal, an endgame. They enjoy the challenge of being the best and competing at the highest level in their field. They are ahead of the field because they are planning and working it that way. They are winning and they are constantly looking for ways of winning by a bigger margin. They are way ahead in a big game and their starters are still on the field. It's about more than just this game. We love them, but we hate them. But only because of our own insecurity or when we find ourselves on the opposite team.
DriRF's are the workaholics. High powered execs who are at work because they are avoiding some other part of their lives or dreams. But they are extremely good at what they do and often do enjoy work. They are at the top of their game in that one area of life and they will only get better as long as whatever they are running from doesn't catch up.
Michael Jordan - Yes, he loved the game. Yes, he was a winner. Yes, he was the best. Yes, he is a class act. But you can't deny he'd rather have been playing baseball.
DriRT's work long hours like DriRF's, but they aren't working to avoid anything. They are working because they love what they do. They would do it even if they didn't get paid. They would do it even if they could get paid more doing something else. It resonates with their soul and in turn they touch those around them. Working brings more energy and ideas to the table so there is a sustainable longevity to what they do. They do things better, longer and seemingly effortlessly despite the long hours and hard work.
John Wooden - He loved the game. He loved the sport. He loved the men who played under him. Each year was better than the last. He was on a different level because he had different goals. Winning was important, but there was something more. Something he was running towards.
Running/driving toward a greater goal. That is where we all function at the highest of the highest level. That should be our goal. Work in our area of magnificence. Let's be Driven!
