For instance, I played soccer as a kid and was quite terrible at it. Getting a trophy for showing up just made me feel slightly awkward; ultimately, it ended up giving me a healthy contempt for systems that rewarded such mediocrity.
I experienced a lot of that, but in retrospect my parents managed it pretty well by rewarding hard work. If I got a trophy for a bad sports season, they gave me the option to throw it out. I always did. When I was little, I earned an allowance by doing chores and yardwork. When I was in high school, I was expected to work in the yard if I didn't have a weekend job, so I was always working, but only sometimes getting paid. I was given cash rewards for quarterly grades through high school, but a B paid so much less than an A that it was more of an insult.
I came out the other end a little backwards: I dislike getting awards, and I feel uncomfortable if someone tells me I did a good job.
In the end, child development always comes down to parenting. If the child's environment isn't pushing them hard enough, they can do something about it
Interestingly, we're accused of not wanting to pay our dues and and the same time expecting to be rewarded for merely (but more importantly, being judged on) quantity, not quality. Seems like an interesting juxtaposition if you ask me. (I recognise this sort of thinking is pretty indicative of an arrogant 'millenial' ;)
I sure as hell don't remember being showered with praise or getting athletic trophies just for turning up.