Message Boards
Today's Active Topics Today's Active Cases Browse Forum Categories My Recent Activity My Messages Private Groups My Marked Threads My Subscriptions
Today's Active Images Today's Active Polls Most Active Topics Global Townie Map Advanced Message Board Search Message Board Terms of Use

A Voice In The Arena: The ‘Not-Enough’ Superpower by Dr. Chad Foster

Start Discussion More by this author (47)
A Voice In The Arena: The ‘Not-Enough’ Superpower   

by Chad Foster, DDS, MS, editorial director

[Editor’s note: For greater context on the theme of this column, check out Dr. Chad Foster’s November 2021 column, “Don’t Leave the Parking Brake On,” and his July/August 2021 column, “The Wanting Self.”]

One of the best sports documentaries I’ve ever seen is The Last Dance, which chronicles Michael Jordan’s NBA career with the Chicago Bulls. Growing up a Suns fan, I rooted against Michael Jordan the basketball player, but his personal story through the documentary really connected with me.

One of the scenes that touched me the most was when Jordan discussed his relationship with his father, James Jordan. While Michael Jordan was growing up, his dad would often put him down and belittle him in front of his brothers. Jordan didn’t go on a deep introspective dive into the subject, but the rare emotion in his voice when giving brief commentary on his father’s disapproval was telling: “When you’re going through it, it’s traumatic, because … you know, I want that approval, I want that confidence, so my determination got even greater.” It was clear that through Jordan’s formative years, he internalized a “chase for enough-ness” in the eyes of the most important man in his world.

As Jordan’s life played out through the documentary from one achievement to the next during the greatest basketball career of all time, that burning desire to assert his enough-ness was on display. He would make sure no challenge placed before him would ever make him feel like that again.


Driven and determined to succeed
The “not-enough-ness” Jordan endured during his childhood would haunt him throughout his career, but he was able to channel that into an unnatural and unbelievably powerful inner drive.  at rare drive, paired with his natural athleticism, parted his challenges like water by a speedboat and left them fallen in his wake.

The inner drive from “not-enough-ness” was not always manifested for him in positive ways. He also expressed it in ways that at times made him disliked as a leader, and almost impossible for his teammates on the Bulls to tolerate. It must have been difficult for him to understand how those around him couldn’t manufacture the same drive that was so easily accessible for him.

A study of uber-achievers reveals a common trait highlighted well in this documentary. Often, the superhuman levels of determination and will that allow such success are positive manifestations of a sustained battle with the demons of “not-enough-ness.” Those who are able to wrestle their internal demons and redirect them in a positive/effective way tap into a source of energy and drive that isn’t completely accessible to most people.


Directing that energy for good
Not every person’s battle with “not-enough-ness” results in world-champion-level achievements; often, it instead manifests in people’s lives in toxic ways. If that critical voice is aimed internally— I picture an imaginary character like a judge—it can lead to quite the opposite: a life of chronic pain and ineffectiveness.

In my life, from age 23 to 32 it showed up as numbing with alcohol, paired with self-destructive behaviors. In those times when the “judge” was numbed and off the job, my ego’s intent was to burn down the unfair, self-imposed confines. Because there was also a positive expression of that “not-enough-ness” in my life during those years—I was a functional academic uber-achiever—I didn’t ever think I needed to change. I had my inner demons, but I was exceptional enough in the external.

For me, a conscious, lengthy and uncomfortable introspective reckoning with the “not-enough-ness” with an amazing analyst changed my life. One thing we would discuss was how lucky are those who can effectively take the judge out of the supercar we’ve built out of “not-enough-ness.” The judge doesn’t use it well when he’s driving.

What we are left with then is a self-built, high-performance vehicle that has an open and available driver’s seat. And a clear head. And an open road before us.

Orthotown makes it easy to
share an opinion with your peers!

We encourage verified members of the Orthotown community to share their thoughts, suggestions and opinions in 
the Comments section under this column—and every other article!

Orthotown Magazine
September 2025
Orthotown Magazine September 2025 Read Current Issue Read Archived Issues
Sponsors
Townie® Poll
Do you have a dedicated insurance coordinator in your office?
  
Site Menu
Message Boards Magazine Continuing Education Podcasts Blogs Classifieds News Events Townie® Poll Ebooks Townie Choice Awards
Company Info
Contact Us Advertise With Us Howard Farran DDS, MBA Policies and Agreements
Site Help
Sally Gross, Member Services Specialist
Phone: +1-480-445-9710
Email: sally@farranmedia.com
©2025 Orthotown, a division of Farran Media • All Rights Reserved
9633 S. 48th Street Suite 200 • Phoenix, AZ 85044 • Phone:+1-480-598-0001 • Fax:+1-480-598-3450