Image via Wikipedia

I’m an avid basketball fan, and since the NBA Finals start tonight, I have basketball on the mind.  Specifically, I’m thinking about Kobe Bryant and the impact he is going to have on the series.

Let me qualify this entry by saying it pains me, as a Boston Celtics fan, to admit that there is a characteristic in one of the Los Angeles Lakers that I have a huge amount of admiration for.  That being said, it is undeniable that Kobe Bryant’s killer instinct — his ability to envision exactly what he wants to happen, then succeed in making it happen — is what makes him one of the greatest basketball players to ever live.  Sure, there are less than desirable traits that he’s known for too, but we’ll leave that alone for this discussion.

Regardless of who he is playing, Kobe has the confidence in himself to take the ball and make the shot.  There is a reason he is in the position he is in.  He knows it.  I know it.  You know it.  The question is, how do you get to that position?  How can we, in our own occupations, receive the “ball” with that same sort of confidence?

I think the key to this scenario is the realization that you are where you are for a reason.  Regardless of the circumstances, you were chosen for the position that you hold.  That being the case, you should feel empowered to know that no one else has the unique combination of experiences and skills that you do.  When the ball comes your way, confidently take the shot.  Whether you make it or miss it is irrelevant — even Kobe misses clutch shots — but when you have the confidence to act without second guessing yourself, you will become the go-to person in your own clutch situations.

When problems arise on the job, there is always a person that everyone turns to for the answer.  Sometimes all it takes is the self-confidence to risk failure — to take the tough shot — to become that person.  For the Celtics’ sake, I hope Kobe has an off night (or four), but I have no doubt that when the game is on the line, Kobe will be the one with the ball in his hands.

Visit us at Unity Business Systems!

About the author

Tim Ilardi wrote 4 articles on this blog.

Tim graduated from George Mason University in 2004 with a degree in English. Shortly after graduating, he was hired into the Scanning Department at Unity Business Systems, where he worked his way up to his current position of Scanning Services Manager. Outside of the job, he spends as much time as he can with his wife and son, as well as playing bass in his band, Moving Giants.

• Blog