The NBA playoffs are in full swing, and recently one of the main contenders to win it all, the Milwaukee Bucks, lost in the first round. After their final game, a reporter asked Giannis Antetokounmpo if he considered this season a failure, and he had an answer worth watching.
As the title suggests, Giannis basically says that there’s no failure in sports. No one wins every game, and just because a team doesn’t win a champion doesn’t make the season (or the players on the team) a failure. There are so many successes along the way–every shot made, every clever pass, every fan they made smile.
I love this perspective in general, not just for sports. It applies to creativity, relationships, insecurities, etc.
I went indoor rock climbing last week for the first time in years, and I couldn’t finish a 5.9 that was once easy. At first I was a little down–have I really forgotten everything I learned? But Giannis’ words were fresh on my mind. I brushed off, appreciated that I got halfway up the wall, and I adjusted my expectations and focused on 5.7s and 5.8s for the rest of the climb. I needed to test my limits to ensure I didn’t rush in and hurt myself, as I need these hands for work and disc golf too!
What do you think about Giannis’ words of wisdom? How do you reframe failure in your life?