Focus – PAOLOPUNZALAN.COM

THOUGHTS ON THE SPURS – HEAT FINALS

I’m really not a Spurs fan but watching them play is fascinating.
(By the way, I’m not a sports analyst so don’t consider this as a Finals analysis of some sort. :))

Here are a few lessons I’ve gleaned from watching them play.

1. HUMILITY

You don’t see finger pointing, muscle flexing or raising the roof type of reaction after a play.

Coach Pop has been able to harness skill and at the same time temper any ego that might flare up.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)

2. TEAMWORK

Since Tim Duncan 17 years ago, they have had no first round draft pick.

Manu Ginobili was pick no. 55.
Patty Mills was pick number 55.
Danny Green was pick number 46.
Tony Parker was pick number 26.
Kawhi Leonard was pick number 15 and then traded by Indiana Pacers.

No superstars and yet when they come together, they make beautiful music like an orchestra.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. (Ecc. 4:9)
But now there are many members, yet but one body. (1 Cor. 12:20)

This teamwork has been fueled by loyalty. You see players who have stayed with the team for years and years. They’ve built the team from ground up and not bought contracts of superstars from other teams.

3. FOCUS

Because humility and teamwork were in play, focus was on the right direction – not towards self or even on one guy.
It doesn’t matter who gets the credit as long as the job gets done.

Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. (Proverbs 4:25)

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS.

PS. Feel free to add to the list of lessons learned in the comments section below if you wish.

GOOD, BUT NOT THAT GOOD

“You are good, but not that good.”

This is one of the lines I keep hearing from him.

Everytime I get a chance to have lunch with Joey Bonifacio, I take it. There are lots of lessons to be learned from this man. I am just so thankful I have mentors that I can go to and glean from their experiences in ministry, family and life in general.

One of the principles I have learned from him is the principle of FOCUS. You can’t wear too many hats because the truth is, you only have one head. You can’t juggle lots of balls because you’ll drop one soon enough. And you can’t be driving in several lanes because there’s only one YOU to drive that ONE car.

Whether it’s in the area of business, ministry or family, focus is critical.

Your kids will only have one daddy (or mommy) they can have.
Your team only has one leader (if you’re the designated one) to lead. If not, someone else will have to take that role.
Your business only has one CEO. If not managing it will be nothing short of a nightmare.
Your small group only has one leader. Otherwise, it can be confusing.

“At the end of the day, there’s only 24 hours and only 100% in one pie. You’re good but not that good.” – Joey Bonifacio

COTTON CANDY FOCUS

I took my 5 year old son, Ryan to a professional basketball game (PBA).

He was enjoying the game for the first 2 quarters. However, when half-time hit, there were hawkers that were selling all kinds of stuff – from Pizzas to Pepsi, ice tea to ice cream.

One particular item caught my son’s attention… cotton candy.

He asked me to buy it. Wanting to be a kind and generous father, I got him one so he can enjoy the game while eating it. But as the game progressed, I noticed that he was more consumed about his cotton candy than the game that was actually pretty exciting.

I thought about how sometimes we start off wanting to live our lives for God but along the way, we get distracted. We’re excited, we’re focused and we know why we’re there. But stuff comes along and we lose our focus.

I guess that’s exactly why God, no matter how generous a Father He is, doesn’t give us everything we ask for right at the moment we ask for it. He knows we’ll end up focusing on the blessing more than the Blesser.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith… (Hebrews 12:2)