What the Knicks' Comeback Taught Me About Success

I watched the Knicks come back from a 29-point deficit... and it reminded me of a lesson every entrepreneur, leader, and parent needs to hear.

Too many of us focus on the scoreboard, our revenue, goals, health, confidence, or results - instead of focusing on the next play.

In this episode, I share 3 powerful lessons on momentum, preparation, and the impact of your environment, inspired by an unforgettable comeback and watching my son compete on one of basketball's biggest stages.

If you've been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or behind, this episode is your reminder: success is built one possession at a time.

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Transcript

It was one of the biggest comeback the finals history. Not all at once, not with one shot, not with one miracle play, but one possession at a time, one stop at a time, one basket at a time. And as I watched that comeback, I couldn't help but think.

About how many entrepreneurs, business owners, and even parents quit because they're staring at the scoreboard instead of focusing on the next position.

Many of you guys know that I'm a sports mom, so you know I've gotta bring this up. Last week while I was at New York, I was watching the New York Knicks. Not at Madison Gardens, but in my hotel room. And at halftime they were down twenty seven points. At one point of the game, they were down twenty nine points. And most people had written them off. Fans were so frustrated that they started walking out in the middle of the game and analysts, of course, were calling the game over

And some people probably turned the TV off. And then something happened. They came back. It was one of the biggest comebac the finals history. Not all at once, not with one shot, not with one miracle play, but one possession at a time, one stop at a time, one basket at a time. And as I watched that comeback, I couldn't help but think.

About how many entrepreneurs, business owners, and even parents quit because they're staring at the scoreboard instead of focusing on the next position. because let's be honest, maybe your scoreboard right now isn't basketball. Maybe it's your revenue, maybe it's your health, maybe it's your marriage, maybe it's your confidence, maybe it's a goal you've been chasing for years. And when you focus on the gap of where you are and where you want to be, it can feel almost impossible, but success rarely happens all at once. It happens one possession at a time. 

So, lesson number one is stop looking at the scoreboard, especially when you're down and if it doesn't give you energy. The Knicks didn't erase the 29-point deficit in one shot. They didn't suddenly go from losing to winning because of one play. They chipped away, they closed that gap, possession after possession, play after play. And

Business works the same way, my friend. So many people are overwhelmed because they're staring at a scoreboard they can't immediately change. And in our business, especially in real estate, there's such a big lag. You want more revenue, you want more leads, you want more clients, you want more freedom, you want more time, you want more results. And because you don't have it yet, you sometimes feel stuck. But winning isn't just about the scoreboard, winning is about the next play.

And whenever I feel overwhelmed, I try to ask myself one simple question. What's the next possession? Not what do I need to do this year? Not what do I need to do this next quarter? It's what's that one thing? The next phone call, the next follow-up, the next piece of content, the next conversation, the next decision. Because guess what? Momentum is built one possession at a time. And I think too many people quit because they're focused on how far they have left to go instead of the next step in front of them.

Lesson number two is pressure reveals preparation. That lesson hit me hard again this weekend while watching my son Brexton play at Section Seven. And for those that don't know what Section 7 is, it's one of the biggest live recruiting events in the country when it comes to basketball. College coaches everywhere and the gyms are packed. The energy is incredible, except for that it was very hot in the gym this weekend because it was held in Arizona in the summer. And Brexton is only going to be a sophomore. And as a mom, it was pretty surreal to watch.

But standing there, I kept thinking about something. Everybody sees the stage. Nobody sees the preparation. They see the pack gym. They don't see the thousands of shots. They see the college coaches. They don't see the years of practice. They see the opportunity. They don't see the preparation that created the opportunity. And that's true in business too. People see the successful company, the successful agents, the successful business entrepreneurs.

They don't see the years it took to build it. They see the launch. They see the late nights. They see the GCI. They see the results, but they do not see the sacrifice. They see the stage. They don't see the preparation. 

And that's why lesson number two is this pressure doesn't create confidence. Preparation creates confidence. Pressure simply just reveals it. And when Brexton steps onto a big stage, he's not relying on motivation. He's relying on preparation, the reps, the habits, the fundamentals, the work. And business is no different when the market shifts, when the deals fall apart, when opportunities show up, when challenges hit, guess what? Pressure reveals your systems, pressure reveals your habits.

And pressure reveals your leadership, and pressure reveals whether you were prepared for the moment because confidence isn't built when everybody is watching. Confidence is built when nobody is watching. 

And then lesson number three is environment shapes what's possible. One of the things I've been thinking about lately is how fortunate Brexton has been to grow up around basketball. He's watched Bryce, he's had his dad as a coach. He's been around gyms his entire life. He's been around people who believe big things are possible.

He's been around people who work hard. He's been around people who compete. He's been around people who expect excellence and environment matters more than people realize. The rooms you're in matter, the conversations you have matter, and the people you spend time with matters. The standards around you absolutely matters because eventually you begin to believe what's normal. You begin to believe what's possible.

You begin to expand your vision based on what you consistently see. And I think sometimes we forget about that. And that is so true in sports. And it's also true in business. And it's very, very true in life. And one of the reasons I continue investing in rooms, communities, workshops, experiences is because proximity changes perspective. Sometimes you don't need more information. You just need a bigger vision or you need expansion or you need to see what's possible. You need to be around.

people who challenge you to think differently because success is often borrowed belief before it becomes a personal belief. And so here's the challenge I want to leave you with because y'all know I love to leave you guys with a challenge. Where are you looking at your scoreboard right now? Maybe it's in your business, maybe it's in your finances, maybe it's in your health, maybe it's in your confidence and maybe it's a goal you've been chasing for years. 

And instead of asking yourself "How you're going to solve everything, ask yourself this. What's my next possession? What's my next play? What's my next action? What's my next conversation? And what's my next decision?"

 Because that's where momentum starts. Not through a huge, gigantic breakthrough, not with perfect circumstances, not with some magical moment.

Momentum starts with the next possession. And see, watching the Knicks reminded me that games are rarely over when people think they are. Watching Brexton reminded me that opportunities show up long after preparation begins. And both reminded me of the same thing. Don't judge your future based on today's scoreboard. A 27-point deficit can disappear. A struggling business can recover.

A difficult season can turn around and momentum can come back. Confidence can come back. Growth and scale can come back, but only if you stay in the game. Only if you're willing and you keep taking that next shot.

Only if you keep winning the next possession because the people who ultimately win aren't necessarily the most talented, they're often the ones who stay in the game long enough for momentum to find them. So this week I want you to stop obsessing over some crazy scoreboard. I know it's in the middle of the year. I want you to stop focusing on the gap and start asking yourself, what's the next possession? 

The one that is going to be that one next thing that will go help you win. That's how momentum is built. That's how confidence is built, and that's how businesses are built, and that's how you Play Bigger. So if this episode resonated with you, I want you to share it with a friend who needs to hear it.

And if you're in a season where you are trying to build something bigger, create more momentum, or surround yourself with people who challenge you to think differently. That's exactly why we continue building the play bigger community and workshops. DM me the word workshop at @itsraquelq on IG because guess what? Success isn't built alone. It's built through preparation, through execution, and getting in the right rooms.

I wanna thank you for hanging out with me today and listening to another quick episode. I'm sending you so much love today and for the week ahead. Until next time, don't forget to keep Playing Bigger, my friend.