Offense vs. Defense
Some will immediately say, “Defense wins championships.” Maybe. But, I’ll argue truly great offense can’t be stopped.
My personality, my history, my focus, has always been offense. Yes, this probably hurt me a little in my basketball career, but I’m wired for offense. Score, score, score, and more, more, more. It’s who I am. There is no hiding from who I am. Get buckets!
Play more offense
This is why I decided to make a move in my career at the end of 2014. I needed to get back to playing offense. I needed to be making more moves and taking a bit more risk. I needed the jolt of uncertainty, a new challenge, and eye-opening experiences of new relationships and new endeavors.
Tim Ferriss recently interviewed Chris Sacca on the Tim Ferriss Show Podcast. (Side note, Chris is a really REALLY interesting and smart dude. Specifically I’d encourage parents to listen to how he was raised). Sorry, back to the story. I listened to the podcast on my flight back from New York City last week and loved what Chris had to say about two life changing decisions that set him on the wave he’s currently riding today.
Decision Number 1: He chose to get back on offense. That’s what triggered this post.
Chris has an undergrad degree and law degree from Georgetown. He spent time at Google in it’s early years, made millions, lost millions, went into debt, and is now worth an estimated $1.07 billion. Just to clarify the $.07 billion is $70 million if you’re into that.
I have a friend who started the company MMOGM. Make Moves or Get Moved. The site says is beautifully.
It started as a slogan.
Turned into a motto.
Bottom line, it’s a lifestyle!
Boom! Do you think that sounds like playing offense or defense? Do you think these guys needed the approval of the outside world to start this concept. HELL NO!
To play offense you don’t need to be ready to save the world or start that company. Speaking candidly, I thought long and hard about my decision last year and wasn’t ready…YET. It didn’t mean I couldn’t continue to play offense.
Coaches hate mistakes. But, they can live with making an aggressive mistake. Why? Because the key word isn’t mistake, it’s aggressive. Dictate pace. Force the issue. Make mistakes quickly, learn faster, and move forward with better direction.
Aggression, energy, motion, and velocity.
ACTION ITEM: More of the gas pedal, less of the brake.
