CHARACTER MOTIVATION THESAURUS

WINNING A COMPETITION



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HELPFUL TIP:

To understand why your character is driven toward a certain goal, get to know their positive and negative traits, as well as any significant emotional wounds that might be motivating them. Then you can explore the various kinds of conflict that could block them as they move toward their goal.
FORMS THIS MIGHT TAKE:
Meeting a difficult business goal within a competitive firm (garnering the most sales, the most clients, the most profit, etc.)
Getting first place in a sporting event, such as diving, a triathlon, or a soccer championship
Striving to beat a bizarre world record, like hot-dog eating, longest fingernails, or most time going without sleep
Taking top marks at a school science fair, robotics competition, spelling championship, etc.
Winning in a chess tournament
Being awarded a special scholarship
Being chosen for an elite program or school
Winning an election
Winning a championship event, such as the Indy 500
Winning a neighborhood bake off, smoked meat competition, best chili, etc.
Garnering a "Best in Show" designation on the dog (or cat) circuit
Being chosen for a highly competitive intern position
Taking the top prize in an art show
Winning a talent competition
Winning an award for acting, singing, musical score, etc. in Hollywood
Meeting a fundraising goal before someone else does

HUMAN NEED DRIVING THE GOAL (INNER MOTIVATION):
There are five basic human needs that, when missing from a character's life, could motivate them to pursue this goal. The following needs are all possibilities, but only one of them should be the primary driver for any given character. For more information on the relationship between human needs and outer motivations, please see​ this ​Character Motivation tutorial.

Esteem and Recognition: Many people have the desire to distinguish themselves, but to someone who desperately needed the recognition and esteem of others, it becomes a deep need that must be satisfied. If a competition came along that could provide the accolades they desired, the character might go all-in and try to win it. 
Love and Belonging: In some societies, love can be a competition, a prize to be earned. If this is the case, the character might fight to win their beloved rather than live in a reality where their beloved ends up with someone else. 
Safety and Security: Life isn't always fair; to thrive in difficult circumstances the character may have to be the strongest, most resourceful, or most ruthless. If a character finds himself in this scenario, he may need to ensure that he or the group he belongs to is the "most" in some way so they'll have the resources they need to protect themselves from others.
Physiological Needs: One only needs to look at The Hunger Games to know that sometimes winning is a matter of life and death. In that situation, a character would do almost anything, even crossing moral lines, to succeed. 

HOW THE CHARACTER MAY PREPARE FOR THIS GOAL:
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POSSIBLE SACRIFICES OR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GOAL:
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ROADBLOCKS WHICH COULD PREVENT THIS GOAL FROM BEING ACHIEVED:
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TALENTS & SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THE CHARACTER ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:
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WHAT'S AT STAKE IF THIS GOAL ISN'T MET?
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