What Game Are You Playing?
Posted by Cathy Mahady on Wednesday, June 10th, 2009
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Last night I watched about 10 minutes of the NBA finals.
This, in itself, is odd, we watch very little TV ever, there’s simply too many other things that I should, could, and want to be doing!
As I sat there watching those multi-million dollar earners shoot (and miss) their free throws, I was thinking about what it took them to get where they are.
I thought about the effort and concentration they had to have achieved in order to play in THE most competitive series of the season, vying for the most sought-after prize known to their profession.
I considered what it cost them personally to get there and how that relates to me and my business, and I had a most amazing ‘light-bulb’ moment…
I, too, am vying for the most sought after prize in my profession, walk-away income, but how do I approach what I do every day?
I am still playing high-school ball. I haven’t even graduated to college ball yet, and I prove that EVERY day by my focus and mindset and level of intensity.
Those highly-paid, finely tuned athletes PLAY their game very seriously every day. They focus and use visualization and concentration at the most sophisticated levels, every day. They still work on the basics, and practice, and SWEAT, every day.
They get up knowing exactly what they’re going to do, every day.
They know they can’t just spend their time shooting hoops, they must work on their agility with drills, their strength with weights, and their mind by studying plays and listening to their coach.
(As a side note: they do NOT listen to people who don’t play their game with EXCELLENCE! Might be a lesson there for some…)
They spend HOURS, every day, fine-tuning what they do, and they get paid the big bucks. They didn’t get rich overnight, they worked HARD, for a LONG time, to reach the superstar money. They cultivated the right mindset, they honed their skills and they continued to educate themselves DILIGENTLY in their chosen profession.
Hmmm… Makes me a bit sick when I think about how I play my game.
In addition to continuing to prospect, I plan to use my time this summer working toward my college degree. It’s time to plan, hone my skills, and study to improve my game.
I plan to learn better how to use visualization and concentration to improve the outcome of what I do, I have BADLY neglected the importance of these skills.
Every time a professional basketball player steps up to the free-throw line, he ’sees’ the ball falling through the net. That doesn’t guarantee that he’ll make his shot, but it highly increases his percentages.
What is the game of basketball about?
Shooting
Dribbling
Passing
The basics, and that’s what the very best players spend their time on every day, so when they get to the game, they are the very best they can be.
What’s my game about?
Prospecting
Presentation
Duplication
I must work, every day, with focus and concentration, to hone my skills and get better at the game. I must DECIDE that I’m no longer playing ‘high school’ ball, but have moved on to college level play, or I’m NEVER going to get anywhere close to the goals I have set for myself.
I challenge you to ask yourself, “What game are you playing?”
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Filed in Guest Bloggers | One response so far
Patrick ONeillon 10 Jun 2009 at 11:42 am 1Great post Tracey. I have played and watched basketball all my life and never thought of it in that way. What really hit me was the part about not listening to people who are not “Playing With Excellence.”
Thanks for the reminder.
Patrick ONeill