The stars shine bright when the lights are brightest.
This line might seem a bit cliché, but there’s a measure of truth to it. The most captivating performances do tend to come from those who own the moment.
I still remember the first time I recognized how true this statement could be. I was 14 years old, watching Allen Iverson take over a game at Madison Square Garden. Under the bright lights of perhaps basketball’s most iconic arena, “The Answer” scored basket after basket down the stretch — silencing 20,000 jeering fans and salting away a win for the Philadelphia 76ers.
It was amazing to see Iverson take that stage, that moment, and make it his own. But then again, that’s what great athletes do. People remember Michael Jordan, Tom Brady and Derek Jeter not only because of their immense talent, but also because of their ability to own the moment on their sports’ biggest stages. Here in Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki will be remembered as much for willing the Mavericks to the 2011 NBA championship as he will be for his Hall of Fame-level career statistics.
Yes, the greatest athletes know how to own the moment. But they’re not the only ones.
We all have an opportunity to own our moments too.
You see, there are times in each of our lives where the lights are on us. Whether we’re talking about a presentation or a proposal, a career change or a self-improvement project, the objective remains the same — own it.
What does that mean?
- It means putting your heart into it. Devoting yourself to the moment itself as much as the outcome of it.
- It means staying prepared. Taking the time and initiative beforehand to ready yourself for that moment.
- It means being confident. Understanding that success is a mindset, and that fear of failure has no place in it.
Ultimately, owning the moment means embracing an aura of achievement. When the spotlight is on our face, our vigilance, devotion and attitude will tell the world the type of person we are — that we will take that light and make it ours.
Now, I realize that this requires extra work, intense focus and some soul searching. That might not seem palatable, particularly for the strenuous situations we must get through.
Still, it’s crucial that we focus on owning all of the moments we come across. It’s tantamount to survival.
After all, no one remembers those who let the moments swallow them whole. It’s the ones who rise to the occasion who tend to see success and recognition.
So, embrace those moments still ahead of you. Be thankful for the opportunities they bring.
Prepare. Devote. Believe.
The outcome might not be entirely in your hands, but your outlook sure is.
Own the moment.