Example 1: A desire to please the crowd (or not dissappoint them)

Everyone wants to play well, and everyone wants others to see it — but if the reactions of others is the first thing on your mind while shooting — you are wasting valuable focus needed for proper execution.

Your job is to execute the shot — so all your energy should be there, and nowhere else. If you do your job, you WILL be rewarded — no need to look ahead to what others might think of the outcome.

There is nothing wrong with being a ‘crowd pleaser’, and nothing wrong with finding motivation through the rewards of a cheering crowd (or just a ‘Nice shot!’ from that cute girl) — but remember that those who have successfully learned to find motivation through onlookers have really only learned to control this natural desire to the extent that it does not affect the shot.

Example 2: A desire to beat (or take money from) a particular opponent

Competition is a natural motivator, and there is nothing wrong with motivating yourself to play well by putting a few dollars on the game — but be careful when your primary motivation is based on an egotistical desire to beat a particular person. Often it becomes MORE difficult to execute when you want to beat someone really really bad.

Again, this is a natural tendency. You may come up against a guy with big muscles, a young, arrogant hot shot, or a cute girl in a tournament — and want to win so bad you dog the nine ball to lose your match. Maybe you just know you are better than that manipulative, oldschool hustler at your pool room, but you just can’t execute because you want to teach him a lesson so bad.

The key thing to know and remember is that, no matter your opponent, no matter the situation, the game of pool does not change.

Strive to be the type of player whose game does not change with the whims of your environment.

Example 3: Don’t make a ball if you can’t make ‘em all

In nine ball, it doesn’t matter who makes balls 1-8 — only the person who makes the nine ball can win. A famous phrase used is “Don’t make a ball if you can’t make ‘em all” because too often a player tries running all the way through the nine ball — but should have known the odds of doing so were terrible when he stepped up to the table.

In this case, most of the time a safety is the shot that is most likely to win the shooter the game — but too often his answer to the question, “What do I Want?” is ‘To run out and win.’, when it should have just been ‘ To execute the shot that gives me the best chance to win.’.

Example 4: Matching Up

Another bad answer to the question, “What Do I Want?” occurs in gambling when 2 players ‘match up’ (handicap or negotiate the rules of the game so that it’s fair for opponents with different skill levels).

Let’s say you moved into a new town where you have a buddy that knows all of the pool players around. Before you are well known around the local pool hall, a guy that your buddy has pointed out as someone you can beat, but is tough, asks you to play.

If the answer to your question, “What do I want?” is ‘To be in action no matter what.’ or, ‘To win any amount of money right now.’, you might say yes — but it might cost you ALOT of money to do so — especially if you win.

The correct answer to “What do I want?” in this situation for most players will be ‘To win the greatest amount of money I can during the time that I play in this town,’ so most players should respond to the challenger ‘No thanks, I’m looking for somebody more my size.’ or something similar.

If you play one of the toughest guys you can beat first, and win, everybody will know you are better than one of the toughest guys around, and it will be harder to convince others to match up with you. Better to work your way up the ladder, challenging weaker opponents initially — if winning the most money you can long term is your true goal.

That said — there are some players who are not in it for the money — and just want to see how they can fare against the greatest players around. There is nothing wrong with that — and in fact I suspect this personality type is more likely to become a champion — but if you’re in it for the cash, as so many of us are, “What do I want?” becomes a hugely valuable question.

Remember this question, and ask yourself before every shot,

What Do I Want?