[021] don’t sweat these humble beginnings
the higher the building goes up. the deeper the foundation must go down.
To the person:
A few days ago I was in the Uber. The driver told me about a hike he went on that was incredibly dangerous. This particular hike had a narrow walkway with unstable footing and foundations. To complete the hike, one must hold onto a chain rope and be very intentional about where to place their feet, as the risk of slipping is high.
He talked about the importance of focusing on the step in front of you. If you think too far ahead, you risk taking a wrong step and falling. Similarly, if you become too distracted in the view from the top before you reach it, you might slow your pace or even talk yourself out of continuing because the journey seems too daunting. The most significant lesson he learned from this experience was to appreciate the effort it took to get there. The focus and attention required to reach the top is something to be proud of.
As I listened to his story, I realized how easy it is to get caught up in wanting to reach our destination and forget to enjoy each step along the way. The difficulties and hardships we face during our journey shape what we ultimately see as our destination. Most of the things we want in life require some form of struggle to achieve. That's just how the universe works: to receive great rewards, we must sacrifice something equally significant.
We need to learn to focus all our attention on the step right in front of us and make it the most purposeful one possible. By the time we reach our goal, we can appreciate the attention and effort we put into each step along the way.
To the player:
It's so normal to visualize the accomplishments we desire: receiving a D1 scholarship, becoming the MVP of the NBA Finals, or making millions of dollars to play the game you love. These achievements are like trophies that come after thousands of hours of dedication, hundreds of nights wondering how you’ll make it, and years of commitment to a goal you hope to achieve.
They say that faith without works is dead, and that couldn’t be more true. The player who focuses on daily actions, continually improving physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally, and doing things that might seem mundane, is the one who will reap the benefits in the end.
As a coach I believe in empowering a player to have the freedom to express themself through the way they play on the court. I support allowing a person to explore the depths of their game and use their imagination to create a reality that others may not see. However, this freedom requires a level of discipline. To express freedom at its highest form, certain benchmarks and levels must be achieved. For example, if you can’t shoot a basic catch-and-shoot three, you’re likely to struggle with shooting off the dribble with a contested hand.
Falling in love with the journey means not getting bored with mastering the fundamentals before moving on to more advanced skills. Just as babies don’t run before they walk, basketball players must master the basics before advancing. Babies instinctively know they must roll over, crawl, stand up, and then take baby steps before walking.
Similarly, players often try to skip steps, driven by the vision of the top, forgetting that real beauty lies in the step they are on and the one just beyond it.
As you pursue greatness in basketball and in life, remember not to overlook the importance of baby steps. They are often the most crucial steps because they form the foundation that supports everything else.
