Take Your Shot

This topic is the summary of a few different quotes all wrapped into one simplified expression - Take your shot. It was probably most inspired by my recent obsession with "Hamilton", and the song that goes “I am not throwing away my shot”. Hamilton had the slightest opportunity in sight, and even though he probably was going to fail he chose to act and take his shot, becoming one of the most influential historical figures in the United States.

Then there’s the quote by Wayne Gretzky, featured by Michael Scott in one of my favorite shows The Office “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. I love the perspective of putting two outcomes side by side - Taking action and failing versus not trying at all. In not taking the shot at all, you guarantee that you’ll fail because you  never give yourself the chance to succeed.

Then last, one of my all-time favorite quotes, “Don’t pump fake the money shot”. The money shot is the shot you take when everything is on the line. It decides the game, and if it goes well, you’re the hero. To pump fake is to second guess, to not take decisive action, and if you hesitate during the most pivotal moments then you’re going to miss the opportunity. 

So basically in three different ways I’m saying the same thing - Take your shot. Trust yourself and go for it, even in the face of failure and resistance, because it beats the alternative every single time.