Take the Shot

We think of athletes as these super talented individuals who were born with these amazing gifts. But when we look closer at people like Tiger Woods, we find that he was not just born in a home with an expert golfer. His father Earl taught him to play golf before he was two years old. He wasn’t 20 and picking up a golf club for the first time, rather he practiced regularly. This deliberate practice attributed to his success. 

So what is Deliberate Practice?

Deliberate practice requires us to take advantage of every opportunity we have to practice the skills we have and to improve them daily.

How?

First is directly practicing to improve our skills. This can be done through role playing opportunities. Second, would be taking advantage of opportunities in our field.

Realize that when we are practicing with others, we are still in our comfort zones. Actually taking advantage of the opportunities presented to us in reality gets us out of our comfort zone. So are we going to shy away and do the easy thing?  Or are we going to take the harder route, dig our feet in and give it our all each and every time? Only you can decide that. But remember the athletes. They don’t just have to practice. They actually take the shots that are important when they are in their field. They too have something to lose. Yet they choose to execute. They give it their all. We can learn something from this. When we are in our field, we know we have something to lose but only if we don’t take the shot. So give it your all, no matter what your field or goal is. Give it your all no matter what the outcome. Always remember if you don’t take the shot, you have already lost. Don’t just practice hard. Instead, get out of your comfort zone and perform at the level you are trying to reach. Go out there today, remember, take advantage of every opportunity...and take the shot.


Quotes from the book Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin