The concept of “next play” is borrowed from Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) of the Duke Blue Devils. Whenever a play is over, good or bad, the coach shouts out “next play”! The idea is the game (and life) have moved on.
Take too long to celebrate that great three pointer in your mind and the competition will steal your lunch while you rest on your laurels.
Dwell excessively on a bad pass or an air ball and you lose your mental edge, putting your thoughts where you don’t want to go.
When the game is on, focus like a laser on the present moment; always be ready for the next play.
Closing quotes:
“That’s been one of my mantras—focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” — Steve Jobs; 1955–2011
“One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.” — Tony Robbins; 1960–
“Can you summon your talent at will?” — Al Pacino; 1940–, “Devil’s Advocate”