What’s The Best Advice You Ever Got?

I was reading a magazine recently and there was a great article full of celebrities, sports figures and world leaders talking about the best advice they ever got.

It caused me to think about the best advice I’ve ever gotten as well.

My high school basketball coach, Bruce Davenport, gave our team advice that I’m still using today after all of these years.

He said, “Don’t’ let the play get in the way of the game.”

Yep. That’s it.

It says so much with so few words but can be applied in so many different areas of life.

Life, work, relationships… and games are all full of various rulebooks, play books and sets of standards to get us through almost any situation.

When you look at it from a game perspective, what our coach was trying to say to us was this.

We know these plays will help us score points and win a game, but there are going to be times when the play isn’t working at all. Don’t pass up the opportunity to take a shot when the moment is right or pass it to someone else who is open. It’s ok to divert from the play if it means you still have a shot in the game.

The game… winning the game is more important that following the play every time. You have to adjust when necessary.

Sometimes, sticking to the play will cost you the game.

Life is like this isn’t it? Work is like this isn’t it? Sometimes you have to do something out of the norm to get the job done. Sometimes you have to take a chance to achieve the end result. Sometimes the normal lines of communication and  authority aren’t going to work.

And sometimes it’s up to you to figure out when to divert from the play and go for what you know is right and do it.

What is the best advice you ever got?

Posted on
Category: LIFESTYLE
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.

  • http://patalexander.com Pat Alexander

    While in my 20s I had an employer that was unselfish in his teaching and support of his employees. One day as he was leaving town I expressed concern about getting approval on insurance submissions in his absence as I had not been doing this very long. His statement “Pickup the phone, be confident and present your case. The worst that can happen is that they will say no. I know you will do a great job.”

    How is that for a confidence builder. That was in 1970. To this day I cherish all that I learned from him and our long friendship after I moved on. When I’m having that self-doubt moment which still do happen, I think back to this statement and I’m good.