Are You a Spectator Watching the Game or the Player Playing the Game?

Here’s the truth: You’re either in the stands or on the court, and there’s a massive difference. Let’s talk about what it means to truly play the game, and why it matters for your career, business, and personal growth.

The Stands: All Talk, No Action

Imagine you’re at a football game. The crowd is full of people in the stands, shouting, strategizing, commenting on every move. They think they understand the game—they’re quick to point out what’s wrong, where the coach went wrong, or how they would have played a certain move differently.

But here’s the kicker: They aren’t in the game. They’re spectators, not participants. The fans may be passionate, they may have opinions, but they’re not the ones sweating, failing, and learning in real-time.

In the professional world, this looks like people who spend all their time talking about what should be done, how things should be, or why something isn’t working.

They offer theories, but they don’t take real action. Maybe they’re caught in meetings endlessly debating strategy, yet somehow, nothing ever changes.

Ask yourself:

- Are you spending too much time in conversations about what could be done rather than taking action to make it happen?

- Do you find yourself giving advice, but never stepping up to make the play?

If this sounds familiar, it’s time to get off the sidelines and get into the game.

Your next step is crucial: What’s one thing you can do today to take ownership and start acting on what you know?

On the Court: Risk, Rewards, and Real Feedback

Now, let’s talk about the players on the field. The athletes who are actively in the game.

They’re not watching—they’re running, making decisions, missing some, hitting others. Every play counts, and they don’t have the luxury of talking about it from a safe distance.

When you’re on the court, you’re vulnerable. You’re not guaranteed success.

You’re going to miss, you’ll mess up, and you’ll fail. But you know what else happens? You learn.

Every play is a chance to get better, and every failure is a stepping stone to success. Plus, you’re going to see the rewards of playing: the satisfaction of improvement, the growth, and eventually, the wins.

And here’s the most important part: when you’re on the court, you’re getting feedback immediately.

The coach isn’t waiting to tell you how you did a week from now—they’re giving you real-time insights so you can level up your performance.

In business, this translates to taking action on your goals and continuously measuring and adjusting your approach.

It means looking at the results, reflecting on your performance, and asking for direct feedback so you can improve. It’s not comfortable, but it’s essential if you want to grow.

Ask yourself:

- Are you actively involved in the tasks and decisions that matter, or are you waiting for the perfect moment to jump in?

- When was the last time you received feedback on your performance, and did you act on it?

Being on the court is one thing. But let’s take this a step further: Are you playing in the local league or aiming for the premiership?

When you’re playing a small game, the stakes are lower—so are the rewards. But if you’re aiming for the top, you’re taking bigger risks, making tougher decisions, and facing higher pressures. However, the rewards are also much greater.

In business, this distinction is clear: are you settling for mediocrity, staying comfortable, and playing it safe? Or are you pushing for the big wins, even though the risks are higher?

If you want the rewards of the premiership, you’ll have to raise the stakes. And that doesn’t happen by sitting in the stands.

Getting in the Game: It’s Your Move

The key takeaway is this: It’s not enough to have great ideas, strategies, or opinions. You have to act. And when you do, you’ll face failure, but also, growth.

Here’s your challenge: Stop being a spectator. Get on the court and play the game. Whether you’re shooting for local wins or the big leagues, the rewards are yours to claim—but only if you’re willing to step up.

So, where are you?

- Are you in the stands, watching others play, or are you on the court making moves and learning through action?

- And if you're already on the court—are you ready to take your game to the next level?

Your move.