Take the Next Right Step

Have you ever wanted to give up because the goal seemed impossible at the time?

What if the only difference between where you are today and where you want to be is the willingness to keep taking the next step?

In 1985, the Villanova Wildcats found themselves facing what appeared to be an impossible challenge.

They were playing Georgetown in the NCAA Championship Game. Georgetown was the defending national champion. They had already beaten Villanova three times that season, including an 18-point victory just three weeks earlier in the Big East Tournament. They also had Patrick Ewing, the National Player of the Year and a future Hall of Famer.

On paper, Villanova had little chance.

Before the game, Coach Rollie Massimino delivered a simple message to his team.

They didn’t have to prove they were the better team.

They didn’t have to overcome an entire season’s worth of losses.

They didn’t have to worry about Georgetown’s record or reputation.

They only had to be perfect for forty minutes.

That’s exactly what they did.

Villanova slowed the game down, took care of the basketball, and shot an incredible 78.6% from the field, still the highest shooting percentage in championship game history. They shocked Georgetown and won the National Championship.

The lesson wasn’t basketball.

The lesson was perspective.

Sometimes we become discouraged because we are focused on the entire journey instead of the next step.

We look at the degree instead of the next class.

The promotion instead of today’s work.

The business instead of the next client.

The championship instead of today’s practice.

Encouragement often comes in the form of helping people see that they don’t have to conquer the entire mountain today.

They simply need to take the next step.

One of my favorite lines comes from the movie Frozen II: “Just do the next right thing.”

When the goal feels impossible, don’t worry about the finish line.

Focus on the next right step.

Then the next one.

Then the next one after that.

That’s how impossible goals become possible achievements.

What goal have you convinced yourself is impossible?

What is the next right step you could take today?

Who on your team needs encouragement to keep moving forward?

CHALLENGE
Identify one goal that feels overwhelming. Then stop worrying about the finish line and commit to
taking the next right step today. Momentum begins with movement.