Life Advice From Basketball: “Go Where You’re Wanted”

Career and business success depends on the environment as much as talent and effort.

We’re getting closer to summer — the time of year for watching my favorite sport, WNBA basketball. I’ve never played the game myself. When I became an avid fan back in 1998, someone had to explain what a point guard was. Now I’m hooked. I can even name the top point guards in the league.

Over the years I’ve picked up a lot of ideas that carry over from basketball, such as “Take your shots” and “Show up.”

And I’ve seen how players dramatically improve their performance when they get to go where they’re wanted.

Sometimes a coach seeks out a player. Point guard Ivory Latta starred for the North Carolina Tar Heels, but didn’t find a real home in the WNBA. About ten years ago, when Mike Thibault became head coach of the Mystics, he sought out Ivory Latta to be his point guard. Ivory was averaging something like 20 points a game and Washington was no longer at the bottom of the standings.

First round draft picks know they’re wanted.

In basketball, new prospects are “drafted” in a rigidly prescribed order. Each team gets one pick in the first round. Then they go back and do a…