First Moves

Watching professional basketball this week—the only thing to watch besides lawyers hashing out the legal strategies in a New York City courtroom—I learned to concentrate on “first moves.” That’s when a player makes his fake move toward the basket. After that fake move, all bets are off. Whether it’s basketball, football, or any other sport, it is conflict. The Celtics and the Pacers were at war, figuratively, and sometimes it was ugly, especially when the ref ruled an intentional foul.

Relationships, both professional and personal, are also impacted by first moves. If an initial move is doubtful, then it may be over before it starts. Making the first move can be vital to accomplishing a forward and stable presence. Procrastinators never make the first move. It is the intent to take action and move forward that promotes success, whether educationally or in dealing with life’s ever-changing situations.

And yet it seems that most of the professional basketball games I have been watching over the past several weeks leading to the playoffs have fourth-quarter “first moves.” Scores bounce back and forth within only a few points until one or the other team makes the big move to secure the lead. Whether it is in sports or in life, be strong and make that first move.