What has more value a free throw missed at the start of the game or missing the game winning free throw? What has more effect on our calorie intake for our diet, the first cookie of the day or the last? While we all know factually that a free throw counts as 1 point whether you make or miss it at the beginning of the game or the end, we put much more emphasis and pressure on the last free throw.
This can be crippling for people whether it is in sports, fitness, business or life. Many times we look back on a game and point out how the team lost the game in the last few seconds, a missed shot here, a turnover there etc. but it is the combination of all of these events that led to the loss, not the one at the end of the game. When I work with young basketball players, I have to get them over this hurdle by constantly putting them in a situation where they have hit pressure shots. Usually I have them make a certain amount in a row. If I set the number at 10, many of them will shoot and miss at random times and won't get frustrated, however, when they have gone on a streak and get to 7,8, or 9 now if they miss they are dejected and beside themselves for getting so close. That is the focus effect! They place more importance on shots 7,8,9, and 10 than they do on shots 1-6 even though those are just as important. You can't get to 7-10 without making 1-6. You can't get the game winning free throw without making (or missing) the other ones.
When it comes to every day life, this plays out in so many ways. When we don't reach our goals, we usually focus on the things that went wrong at the end and place an emphasis on those issues without looking further back at something that might have sidetracked us much earlier on. Be aware that every part of the journey matters, don't over-emphasize any one part and diminish others. If you approach each moment like it is as important as a game winning free throw or a game sealing defensive stop, then the game winning plays will take care of themselves.
Andrew
twitter @andrewzimbd
In honor of Robbie Lemons, a man who has put in the work and knew he deserved to make his play in his moment. Proud of you Robbie and the entire Stanford Basketball team. Keep the journey going!