The hunger. The drive. These are the traits that separate the great from the good, the sharks from the suckerfish. Walter Bond had that killer instinct from the start. Undrafted out of college, he clawed his way onto the Dallas Mavericks roster through pure determination and work ethic.

While others took days off, Walter lived in the gym. While others coasted on talent, Walter outworked everyone. He became the first undrafted rookie to start for the Mavs on opening night through the power of his mindset.

After retiring from the NBA, Walter channeled that same mindset into becoming one of the world's top motivational speakers and high performance coaches. He didn't settle for being ordinary. Just like he swam with the sharks as an undersized rookie, he became a shark in the competitive speaking circuit.

In his book Swim, Walter talks about the symbiotic relationship between sharks and suckerfish. The suckerfish get protection and food from the shark. The shark gets parasites removed and its wounds cleaned by the suckerfish. He explains that we will all be sharks AND suckerfish many times in our lives.

Sometimes we are powerful and independent like a shark. Other times we need to align ourselves with people more powerful and tap into their strengths. The key is knowing which role to play and when. Don't be a suckerfish pretending to be a shark. Don't be a shark afraid to let others help you. Embrace both roles at the right times.

Swim with the sharks when it's time to feast. Swim with the suckerfish when you need support. Master this, and you will master the game of life.