One of the most powerful lessons I’ve ever learned about intrinsic motivation came when I was just 10 years old.

I played for the North Shore Mosquito AA (U12)  hockey team—a select group made up of the top 10- and 11-year-old players from four West Island communities in Montreal. Each year, a mostly new group of players came together. And each year, that group won the Provincial Championship, three years running.

At the time, I didn’t fully grasp what I was part of. Looking back, I now see it as a masterclass in activating intrinsic motivation—especially mastery.

Our coach understood that while we all wanted to win (we grew up watching the Habs win 6 Cups in 11 years!), real performance would come from helping us become better players and teammates. His focus wasn’t just on game outcomes. It was on skill development, team discipline, and a commitment to fundamentals.

The stroke of genius? His rule: No curved sticks.

That may not sound radical today, but at the time, curved sticks were the hot innovation—more velocity, more accuracy. We were obsessed. I had one I loved and probably cried when I broke it.

But he banned them. Why? Because he knew that when we couldn’t rely on technology, we’d have to rely on skill. We had to develop better mechanics, better teamwork, and a deeper understanding of the game.

And it worked. Not just in wins, but in how we played.

We won the Provincial Championship for the fourth year in a row for him. We won the Verdun International Tournament. I don’t remember how many games we played—but I’ll never forget this: we only had one loss and one tie.

That season lit a fire in me: a lifelong commitment to getting better at what matters. It’s the second pillar of intrinsic motivation, and without it, accountability fades fast.

👉 Purpose may ignite accountability. But mastery is what sustains it.

👉 People don’t need to be pushed if they’re pulled by a desire to improve at something that matters.

👉 If you lead a team, don’t just set targets. Create an environment where people are driven to improve.

👉 Coach for growth. Celebrate progress.