Basketball and Life — 3 learnings from the court that should be applied to everyday living
Applying sporting principles to business is nothing new. For years we have read and listened to the principles that made the Michael Jordan Bulls great, and we have been told about the culture that has formed the building blocks of the worlds greatest rugby team, The All Blacks.
The beauty of such principles is the fact that they are broad, and can be applied to any facet of life.
Now, I’m far from a professional sports star, but I do love sport, and I strongly believe that every discipline has a message (or two) which if applied elsewhere, we will end up being better people.
For now, let’s hone in on basketball — Three principles from the court that we can apply to everyday life.
When you have an open look, back yourself to make it
I picked up basketball about a year ago, so I’m far from a star player. For most of us, this lack of experience often correlates with indecision.
Now, on the court indecision is a huge downfall.
When I started out, opposing team would leave me open, because if I got the ball they knew one of two things would happen:
- I would be too scared to shoot
- I would throw up a brick — a terrible shot that never looked close to going in, because I never believed it would go in anyway
The problem with this mentally is this: I was open. I had the shot and I had the best opportunity out of the 10 players on the court to make it count, so I should have had to confidence to make the shot. But, because I was indecisive in my own abilities I didn’t make the shot.
What basketball taught me was to kick indecision to the curb, to back myself, be confident in my ability, and to take the opportunity in front of me.
To make the shot.
If we apply this mentally to everyday life, when we are given an opportunity, or an open look, we must take it with both hands. We must back our ability to execute. We must trust our instincts. Regardless of our previous experience, we must have faith that we will make the shot.
Because once you believe, you will achieve. And, you will make the shot.
Always have your hands up, because the ball could be coming your way any second
With this added belief that I can make the shot, I’m starting to make open shots, so I’m actually being guarded by opposing players.
However, often when my teammates make a play, my defender drops off me to double team said teammate. Suddenly I’m open.
In such a situation, if my hands are down, and the ball is passed to me, chances are I will fumble the ball, or I will take too long to gather it, to the point where I am no longer open, and the opportunity to make the shot has gone.
However, if my hands are up, I’m already in a position to make the shot (refer to point 1 above.)
In everyday life, opportunities can cross our path when we least expect it. We have a duty, not just to ourselves, but to the people around us, to catch the ball first go, and capitalise on the opportunity at hand.
Be ready, be expecting, so when the ball does come our way, we make the shot.
Everyone needs a break. Be smart about when you take it
Four, ten minute quarters doesn’t seem like much, but on the court it’s a long time. I like to pride myself in my fitness, in my ability to keep pushing, but 40 minutes of high intensity sport is long enough for my body to tire, to the point where I stop making the shot.
However, by taking a break on the bench and refuelling at certain points in a game, I’m primed and ready to continue rolling for the entire game. And, when everyone in the team adopts this approach, when any one of us has an open look we will all continue to make the shot.
Point here is this — we can’t go 100mph all the time. Sometimes we need a break, even when our tank isn’t quite empty. And while we are resting, it’d important to trust our teammates to make the shot.
In business and in life, it is really easy to ‘keep pushing’ and forget that sometimes we actually need a break — in most cases a mental break. Recognise when you’re starting to run low on energy and sub out. Get some fresh air or take the day. And, while you’re out of the game, trust that the people around you (friends and colleagues) will perform admirably in your absence.
So, that when you’re on, you’re always capable of making the shot.
To summarise:
- Back your abilities
- Be ready
- Refuel regularly
If you have read this far, and this has helped you in some way.
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