Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Focus on the Next Point

My daughter and I were watching the Olympics -- men's volleyball, to be specific -- and one of the commentators (I don't know who it was) said something interesting when one of the teams argued a point lost.


photo source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1261643-olympic-volleyball-2012-team-usa-will-shine-in-unfamiliar-underdog-role 


He said something like: "Well, if they don't let that point go, they'll lose the next one also."

I paused, because this is SO TRUE to life. If we are focused on the point we just lost, or the rejection letter we just received, or the bad review of something we've written ... we will lose the next point and/or pitch, too.

Let's let go of the past and focus on the next victory.


photo source: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120731/sports/707319805/photos/AR/ 


12 comments:

  1. Oh, so true. Such a good point.

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  2. Ah, very true indeed and an important thing to remember.

    The converse is true also: Celebrate and savor the victory you just had, instead of looking ahead to the next one you'd like to have. Whether it's a completed manuscript, a partial request, or a book contract -- savor the moment, rather than casting your eyes ahead toward some future, supposedly better victory.

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  3. Oh! I saw that! And I love your spin on it. That's a great way to look at losses. Focus on the next opportunity, the next WIN! :o) <3

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  4. Hi, dropping in from IWSG.
    That's a great way of looking at things. Don't dwell on the past, focus on the future. We all could use that from time to time.

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  5. Great advice! I SO agree!
    If you dwell on the negative, then you will attract negative energy, and vice versa...

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  6. This makes me think about how important it is to focus on the road when you're driving, and not the scenery. Keeping track of where you want to be, instead of ending up in the ditch seems to work wonders!
    Great little post. :)

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  7. wow... thank you. short and to the point. and best, it will stay with me.... :)

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  8. What great advice! So true! :)

    IWSG #179 (At least until Alex culls the list again. :P)

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  9. That's an excellent point. I've heard similar things said abut hockey players - it's tough to shrug off a bad play or bad call but you have to just move ahead or you'll dig yourself a deeper hole. Really like how you tied this into writing. Shrug off the negative comments/reviews and keep going!

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  10. Really good advice! My boss is a big golf fan and always says "Commit yourself to the shot, then let go of the result."

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  11. That is such good advice! I've been watching the Olympics also. I love the way AT&T has set up a channel where I can see what events are when and then record just the sport I want to watch. Gymnastics, shooting and rowing. It means I don't have to sit for hours and watch stuff until my sport comes up, or miss it because I'm at work.

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