What does it mean to prepare? Do we wait for a potential opportunity before preparing? Does preparation mean practicing your skills over and over again until you can do it in your sleep? Or is it a mindset that you have that allows you to never be taken off guard or by surprise?
The best players are who they are, not because of the talent they have been given. Or because of how athletic they are. They are the best because of their preparation. Because what happened before the bright lights came on. Before they even laid eyes on their opportunity. Two quotes come to my mind, First is “Hard work beats talent, when talent fails to work hard.” The other is “Before you can be great in front of thousands, you have to first outwork thousands in front of no one.” Preparation is the work that no one sees. No one appreciates it. No one understands the blood sweat and tears it took to get where you are.
This is the epitome of who Stephen Curry is. He is not the tallest, or the fastest, or the most talented. But his preparation has made him the greatest shooter ever. He prepared for every moment. And when he failed, he learned from his mistakes, his shortcomings. He made sure that he wouldn’t have to go through those same experiences again. His habits formed his preparation. Every skill is sharpened, Every weakness is turned to a strength. Preparation breeds confidence
So, I ask you, What are your habits like? How do you prepare?
(DJILE, 583754929, Shutterstock)
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