Welcome back to Thank God It’s Monday!
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​tl;dr When is the last time you felt as spirited about something you did as much as you feel empowered by what the Knicks are doing?
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Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never watched a basketball game in my life with any level of excitement before these last few weeks. Even though I’m not home in NY, it is amazing to see the camaraderie that this playoff run has created for people of every race, color, and age. The streets swell with pride, enthusiasm, and fervor for doing what hasn’t been done in 53 years: winning an NBA championship.

I love the way sports can do that: create a unified, proud people. It is a rare breath of fresh air to see front-page headlines celebrate good news. No politics. No nonsense. Just incredible dedication, as if every person in the city has been training to go out there on the court and has a stake in the outcome.
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But when was the last time you felt that much excitement for something you’ve personally worked for?
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I’m sure you’ve seen interviews with various New Yorkers who act like their own child is out on that court: for whom they paid for lessons, drove to practice, coached them through their early years, and supported them through the lows of their careers.
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And I respect anyone with a high level of commitment to anything. It’s better than being apathetic, coasting through life.
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But no matter how many games they’ve watched, how many stats they can recite, and how many plays they call from their couch, nothing they do will impact the outcome of this series.
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And that’s why no NBA championship will ever fulfill them in the way they want it to.
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On the other hand, Brunson, Towns, and Anunoby (yes, I did just Google top three players this series) will have a sense of accomplishment that no one else will be able to truly understand.
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I’m not saying we can’t or shouldn’t have the best New York fans with unwavering support. I am asking you to consider if you have invested as much energy and confidence in yourself as you have in the Knicks these last few weeks.
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I hope you have something you are so passionate about that you can truly impact. I wish for everyone to have a stake in something that matters to them, and your actions affect whether things go well (or they don’t).
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When your words and actions impact the outcome, it turns it into a whole new game. There’s no more “We won!” vs. “They lost.” Now it’s you, come hell or high water, and you’re the captain (or crew) going down with the ship, or getting praised for your great accomplishment. You can no longer yell from the sidelines; you’re in the game, making passes and taking shots.
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The risk is higher, of course. It’s much safer to cheer from the sidelines; nobody blames you when things go wrong. That’s why everyone loves being the Monday Morning Quarterback: you make the perfect calls 100% of the time.
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But real fulfillment and pride come when you’re all in. The good, the bad, and the ugly, it’s all you're doing. The lows are low, but the highs are high. But that sense of accomplishment becomes part of your identity, and brings you confidence knowing you can do it again.
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Consider what you’re most proud of in your life. Is it graduating with your master's degree or the Yankees' 2009 World Series? Is it your children who have turned out to be good people, or the New York Giants 2012 Super Bowl?
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When you have more risk on the line, the payoff is that much greater. Stop playing it safe on the sidelines of your life and take the risk.
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What does that look like? Since neither you nor I is probably making it onto any major league teams anytime soon. (Feel free to prove me wrong)

Take a chance on your side hustle. Launch that project. Say what you’ve been dying to say in your relationships. Publicly commit to your health goals. Hire a coach to reach your fitness goals. Take the risk, go all in, and see the payoff.
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Worst-case scenario, it’s a learning experience. Best case scenario, you can take full ownership of the positive changes that result, and it reaffirms (or plants a seed) for your identity as an owner of your own decisions.
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Whatever it is, do something for yourself, stop just cheering for other people (a sports team, your grown kids, a politician). You don’t impact the outcome, and it’s time to reinvest in yourself.
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Choose something you’re passionate about. Take the risk. Be full of fervor. You’re worth it.
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And next week, we’ll know if the city rallied behind the Knicks enough to claim the championship.
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If you found some value in this, please share it with a friend you think would enjoy it! And let me know if you’d like to be added to get TGIM.
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This week, my podcast recommendation is from The Ed Mylett Show, “Overcoming the Fear of Failure: Strategies for a Maxed Out Life.”

With that, let’s go Knicks!
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Until next time,
Shannon