Get Over Yourself: How to Move without the Ball

In this book, I illustrate the analogy of the ball to represent people, places or worldly possessions that we have conditioned our mind to believe we must have to succeed. These objects are both tangible and intangible readily available in certain times of our lives, but scarce at other times when needed most.

Early in my journey, the ball symbolized fear, selfishness, self-doubt, and even support. As I matured and realized my infinite abilities the ball represented encouragement, capital, family, hearing yes and most of all buy-in. Buy-in from everyone involved because how I moved and thought was unfamiliar to most.

It is important to know that it takes courage and inner strength to motivate yourself to move without the ball, and that it’s obtainable and worth the fight. You must not allow yourself to remain stagnant because of misfortune. Instead, move without the ball and have faith that you will achieve the mission. It’s of greater importance to move as if you have already won. In other words: Be. Do. Have. And not the opposite, which was drilled into me at an early age.

Throughout your life, you’ll have moments when you move without the ball. This can occur for many reasons: upbringing, socioeconomic status, change of career, family challenges, change in dreams or goals, and many others. Whatever the reason is, you’ll have to adjust; and switch up your game. The switch from having the ball to not having it represents a shifting of the mind, which will challenge your entire being. This new awakening will force you to uncover your highest self, 5 but it will not be easy. You will experience loneliness, your relationships with friends and family will suffer, and you will often be ridiculed for going against the grain.

Where I’m from, people would say that I changed or I believed I was better than them; One thing is true: I did change. However, the change didn’t make me better than anyone, but the change did make me become a forward thinker, tap into my gift as a visionary and promote innovation and growth for everyone around me that was willing to use me as a resource without allowing selfishness to take over.

For me, moving without the ball pushed me to view every situation through a different lens. It forced me to show up without excuses; and trust the process even when I wasn’t sure where I was being led. These experiences over the years helped me understand this concept; and the following philosophies in this book.

These pages have been written with certain intentions. You’ll find my objectives for you on the pages that follow. One particular lens requires me to break life’s journey down into quarters. This is an analogy that you would see resembled in a basketball game. Throughout the players career they are trained and mentored. After the player becomes fully developed and has built the mindset and endurance to conquer all; they evolve into a true leader. Some later become trainers and mentors for other players, friends and family.

In efforts to build a correlation I have divided life’s journey into four quarters. The first quarter being from age 0-20, the second quarter from age 20 to 40, third quarter age 40 to 60, and the fourth quarter age 60 to 80. Lastly, we head into overtime.

I will propose all of the following philosophies: Perception, Influence, Planning and Execution, and finally, Moving Without the Ball. I have outlined the philosophies to ask thought provoking questions. I invite you to open your mind and heart to absorb the ideas that are presented. These philosophies and concepts helped me find and understand my own path, and most importantly, be confident in the leader I have become. I hope they will do the same for you.