The move that keeps you in the game
We’ve all heard it:
“Shoot your shot.”
And that’s real.
You should.
But what happens when the shot isn’t there?
In basketball, once you pick up your dribble…
You don’t get to stand still.
You either pass, create space, or pivot into a better position.
Because if you don’t…
You get stuck.
And that’s where most people lose.
Not because they failed.
But because they froze.
Let’s take it off the court.
Look at Microsoft.
They tried hardware.
Zune.
Windows Phone.
Different devices.
Some ideas worked.
A lot didn’t.
They could’ve kept forcing it.
Trying to beat Apple at Apple’s own game.
But they didn’t.
They pivoted.
They leaned into what they do best:
Cloud.
Infrastructure.
Enterprise software.
And now?
They dominate those spaces.
That’s the difference.
They didn’t quit.
They repositioned.
Now look at Google.
Google has a graveyard of products.
Google+
Google Wave
Early Google Glass
All misses.
But they didn’t stop.
They pivoted.
Refined.
Repositioned.
And stayed dominant.
Same thing with Vimeo.
They tried to compete with YouTube.
Didn’t work.
So they pivoted.
They focused on creators.
Professionals.
High-quality video tools.
Different lane.
Better fit.
Now bring it back to the court.
Look at Kobe Bryant.
He didn’t just shoot.
He pivoted.
Created angles.
Adjusted position.
Found better shots.
Because forcing a bad shot?
That’s not confidence.
That’s impatience.
Pivoting?
That’s awareness.
Here’s the pattern:
First lesson: take the shot
Second lesson: when the shot isn’t there…pivot
A pivot isn’t failure.
It’s strategy.
Most people think changing direction means they messed up.
But really?
It means they’re still in the game.
The goal isn’t just to shoot.
It’s to put yourself in position to make the shot.
Sometimes that means adjusting.
Sometimes that means changing direction.
Not quitting.
Just repositioning.
Everybody wants to take the shot.
But the ones who last?
They know when to pivot.
Because staying stuck isn’t persistence.
It’s hesitation.
Make the move.
Find the angle.
Then take the shot.
That’s the work.
That’s the lens.
That’s the logic.