Grabbing the Brass Ring – Are you ready?

This is post number 1,000 since I switched the blog to TypePad, I think it only fitting that this is about grabbing the brass ring, seizing moment, taking advantage of an opportunity. All the hoopla about Jeremy Lin over the past few weeks got me thinking about this. In my forty-three years of coaching and my time as an athlete in high school, in college and post collegiately I have seen many situations where the brass ring was there to grab and the athlete was not ready to grab it. What makes Jeremy Lin so intriguing to me is that he was ready when his moment came and seized the opportunity and has not looked back. Lets not forget this guy did not just show up out of nowhere. He was in the NBA last year, he did play DI basketball, albeit in the Ivy League arguably not a powerhouse conference, but the point is that he had done the work. This is actually the second time he has grabbed the brass ring, the first was when he outplayed number one pick in the NBA in a summer league game to get the attention of the Warriors. We have a pattern here, he is the consummate example of a growth mindset, where others saw failure he saw opportunity. 

You would have to be insensitive not to feel good about his success and be inspired by it but let’s get beyond the warm fuzzy feeling and talk about being ready to grab the brass ring when the opportunity presents itself. If you have done the preparation then you are in control and you have given yourself a chance. If you want to be ready look at how you are preparing. Are you preparing or just hoping that luck and fate will favor you? It doesn’t work that way, it is not the hand of fate that will touch you rather your it is your fate that is in your hands.

I have seen so many athletes and coaches for that matter who speak about “if only” I would have had a chance or the others who had the chance but think they got the shaft. The fact is the bass ring may only pass once. If you are ready you will be a headline like Jeremy Lin, if not you will be a footnote like the numerous other players who got fifteen day tryouts. It is in your hands, be ready, be prepared, and seize the moment.