Distractions

I’m currently reading a book called Shot Ready by Stephen Curry.

Yes, it’s a basketball book.
Yes, I’m not an athlete.
Yes, it’s outside my wheelhouse—and that’s exactly the point.

Steph isn’t just a generational shooter; he’s a leader—on the court and off it. And when I want to grow as a leader, I’m always curious about what makes other leaders tick, especially the ones who perform under constant pressure.

In the book, Curry talks about focus. His goal every time he steps on the court is simple: make a basket. But how he gets there is what got me thinking today. He writes:

“I block out all distractions, even the person guarding me. He can wave his arms and call me every name in the book, but I just smile and wait as the solution to the problem—how to get the ball into the basket—presents itself. When I reach that perfect state of flow, I’m not focused on thoughts or feelings. I’m just hooping.”

That’s impressive.

You see – when I have played basketball, even though making the shot was the goal, my focus was usually on the defender—how to get around them, how to beat them, how to deal with them. Curry says that’s the mistake. The defender becomes the distraction that pulls your attention away from the actual objective.

And that’s not just basketball. That’s life.

How many times have we allowed distractions—the obstacles, the critics, the voices saying you can’t, the things grabbing at our attention—to become the main thing, instead of the goal we’re chasing?

We give distractions far too much credit.

We let them steal our joy.
We assume handling them must come first.
And while we’re busy reacting, adjusting, and maneuvering around the distraction, the real opportunity quietly passes us by.

Distractions are weeds in the lawn of life.
They look big when you’re staring at them—but they’re insignificant compared to the vision you’re cultivating.

What if, instead of obsessing over what’s in our way, we learned to block it out?
What if we smiled, stayed ready, and waited for the opening to present itself?

The truth is, many of us aren’t blocked because of the distraction—we’re blocked because we won’t stop focusing on it.

At some point, we all have to decide:
Will we keep giving our energy to the people and problems trying to guard us?
Or will we lock in on the goal and stay “shot ready”?

Because what you’re driving toward—your calling, your growth, your purpose—is beyond the reach of anything standing in front of you.
So stop staring at the defender.
Lock in on the goal.
And when the opportunity presents itself—take the shot..