Anyone who watches sports has seen this scenario at least once — A player has the football, is nearing the end zone for the game winning touchdown and as they raise their arms in celebration they drop the ball.  No goal.

Or the skier who is sure they are going to win the gold medal on their final run, they raise their poles in celebration and fall before the finish line.

In that crazy moment, when the anticipation of winning eclipses a reality that hasn’t happened yet, it’s hard to resist celebrating.  Overconfidence takes over.  The necessary concentration is broken and what seemed like a sure thing is gone.

Whether we play sports or not, we can sympathize because dropping the ball in that moment, so close to the end-zone has to hurt.  And there is really no excuse, other than what appears to be a lethal combination of anticipation and overconfidence. 

Of course there is a lesson here — don’t spend your bonus before you get it, don’t count eggs as chickens etc.  But, it’s not just about dropping the ball; most of us have dropped a ball at some point in our lives or careers.  What I am talking about here is dropping the ball because you are prematurely anticipating the celebration.  It is the distraction of pending glories… and instead suffering the drama of defeat.  

Staying in the moment is, I suppose the bigger lesson here.  The player who dropped the ball could not resist momentarily stepping into the future, spraying champagne, giving breathless interviews, being the hero.  The irony is obvious of course.  The moment of crossing the end zone line was the moment the player really wanted, not the celebration.

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Enjoy!