Benched. That would be the title of my memoir if I wrote one about my freshman year as a division one athlete.

Imagine going from a second-team all-city selection in one of the best high school conferences in the nation to averaging 4.9 minutes a game on a 8-23 team. “Demoralizing” would still be an understatement for an 18-year-old with pro basketball dreams.

I was upset. My parents were upset. But the household I was raised in didn’t reward complaints and sulking, it rewarded falling down seven times to get up eight. It rewarded staying vigilant for your moment because it was never a matter of “if” but, “when” it was coming.

“If you stay ready, you ain’t gotta get ready” still echos through my brain tunnels 15 years later as I deal with another benching of sorts with my physical activity due to my freak injury last year.

Staying ready isn’t just a phrase, it’s a mentality. A way of life. It should bleed into everything that you do because life isn’t fair. Sometimes you’re going to have wait your turn - regardless of how talented you think you are.

Because when your number finally gets called — and it will — the only question is: will you be ready, or will you wish you were? This week, we’re breaking down how and why staying ready is the silent separator that puts you ahead of 98% of your competition.

This is one of those concepts that sounds easy - I get it. However, research shows (and I've seen firsthand) that humans tend to overestimate themselves and their abilities. With this in mind, let’s explore some examples of people who tossed aside their ego and worked feverishly to get ahead.

Moral of the story: If the 2022 NFL Draft’s “Mr. Irrelevant” Brock Purdy can go from last pick of the draft to signing a 5 year, $265 million dollar contract in 2025…putting in the work behind the scenes just might help you, too.

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That feeling of being "Benched." as a freshman? It could have easily led to complacency or resentment. But the lesson from my upbringing was clear: Opportunity favors the prepared. Always.

That "if you stay ready, you ain't gotta get ready" philosophy isn't passive; it's a deliberate, active pursuit. It’s a mindset that applies far beyond the court. Let's break down the Key 3 to building it.

Key 1: Sharpening Your Skills Daily

Being on the bench didn't mean my development stopped. It meant my practice had to be even more focused. My practices were my game days and I had to win those.

If you were to ask my Rice and Cal Poly teammates what my favorite practices were, they’d tell you, “Any practice where Chris gets to play on the scout team.” Acting as the other team’s star player meant unlimited shots with no backlash from my coaches.

While I did have my fair share of days getting up too many contested jump shots, it was liberating because it was also teaching me what I was and wasn’t capable of. Over time, taking and making tough shots just became part of my DNA.

This is the daily grind of readiness. Not just showing up, but showing up to improve. Finding joy and excitement in what some players would call “being demoted” to the scout team.

While I hadn’t gotten much real playing time in my first two seasons of college, I was still obsessed with sharpening my skills. I even had the coaches give me a 24-hour key to the gym and would often find myself speaking to the overnight custodians in between free throws at 2am on a Saturday night.

In your professional life, how are you sharpening your skills? Are you actively seeking new knowledge in your field? Are you going above and beyond on your own time to better yourself? Can you truly say you have a system built to help you “deepen your bag?”

Someone else got that promotion you wanted? Great. That means you’ve got motivation delivered right to your doorstep - like this email. You have a choice to either complain or just get better. Make your skills so undeniably impressive that people won’t be able to overlook you ever again.

Actionable Tip: Dedicate Deliberate Practice Time

Identify one core skill crucial for your current or next role you’d want to land. Block out 30 minutes, a few times a week, for focused, deliberate practice or learning in that area.

Find sources with a weekly rotation of new articles, videos, etc. that excite and educate you. The most efficient way to get better is to keep feeding your brain new stimuli and challenging yourself to learn. Whether it’s 2pm or 2am, there’s never a wrong time to hone your skills.

Key 2: Learning the Game

While sharpening individual skills is vital, you also have to understand the bigger picture.

As a freshman, I couldn't just focus on my own shot. I had to learn our team's plays, the coach's system, and my teammates’ tendencies. I watched the upperclassmen – how they moved, how they communicated, how they read the game.

However, I didn’t truly start “learning the game” until my coaches sat me down and made me watch film. Yes, I had to face the film that had evidence of me turning the ball over, taking bad shots, and having bad body language…

Oof. Talk about a gut punch. I had to face the reality that I just wasn’t as good as I thought I was. And that is a very hard, but necessary look in the mirror that many will choose to avoid. But not you, you’re subscribed to The Eversley Edge and we don’t get down like that here.

As the film sessions started to accumulate, something very odd happened. When I would go play in practice, the game seemed to slow down tremendously. What used to feel like 2.5x speed now felt like 1x. This was the turning point for my freshman year and career, in general.

So, are you willing to look in the mirror and “watch film” on where you can be better? It’s a key way to develop your strategic understanding, your "Game IQ," your situational awareness.

Professionally, this means understanding your company’s strategy and constantly reviewing ways to make it better. Knowing your industry landscape, your competitors. Being able to anticipate the next play by forecasting the proper numbers for your finance team to secure funding for key projects.

Actionable Tip: Become a Student of Your Arena

Schedule time to learn about your role, not just be in it. Read industry reports. Ask "why" certain strategies are chosen. Seek to understand the challenges your leaders are facing.

And if you are a leader, ask those on your front lines for their insights on processes and issues. It can be uncomfortable, but empower them to be honest - without retaliation.

The more you can understand the entire "game," the more ready you'll be to make impactful plays. When impact plays are chained together, championships are won.

Key 3: Seizing the Moment (Executing When Your Number is Called)

All the preparation, all the learning, leads to this: Being ready to perform when the opportunity arrives. For me, that day came on February 27, 2010.

In the final game of the regular season against UTEP, my coach looked down the bench and called my name.

Was this it? How ironic. The last game? “Showtime!” I thought to myself. I checked into the game and well, let’s just say 6’5” 195lb CE got a little busy out there.

Nerves are natural. Doubt can creep in. But "staying ready" means you've built a foundation of confidence. You’re rarely nervous for the test you’ve actually studied for.

All those early mornings and late nights at the gym had led to this moment. The pain, the frustration, and hunger gave me more ammo than I needed to succeed in that moment.

We trust our sharpened skills (Key 1). We understand the situation because we've learned the game (Key 2).

Now it's about execution. It's about translating potential into performance. Not only did I play, but I logged a season high in minutes, scored 10 points, AND got my first college dunk!

Athletes talk about "trusting their training." This is an example of that trust being tested and proven. In your career, this could be a sudden project lead, an unexpected chance to present to executives, or a critical problem no one else can solve. These moments are where readiness meets opportunity.

Visualizing your success before it happens is key. If you can see yourself succeeding in front of those execs, leading that project across the finish line, or even have your team leaving the meeting with smiles instead of angst - you’ve won most of the battle already.

Actionable Tip: Mentally Rehearse Your 'Go Time'

Don't wait for the big moment to think about how you'll react. Mentally walk through how you'll leverage your prepared skills. Don’t leave any details out. Like Inception, the more granular the better. See it ALL.

This pre-play reduces anxiety and boosts confident execution. When your number is called, you'll be ready to deliver. All you have to do is hit play and enjoy the ride.

Post-Game Recap: When Preparation Meets Opportunity

The essence of "The 'Stay Ready' Mindset" is about ensuring that when opportunity knocks — often unexpectedly — you're not just available, but fully equipped to answer the call.

This means consistently Sharpening Your Skills even when no one's watching, actively Learning the Game to understand the bigger picture, and having the courage and confidence to Seize Your Moment when your number is called. It’s the unseen work that fuels visible success.

Like that final regular-season game in my freshman year, your moments will come. The diligent preparation you undertake today is the foundation for the victories you'll achieve tomorrow.

I hope this exploration of "The 'Stay Ready' Mindset" provides some valuable fuel for your own journey of continuous preparation and seizing opportunities! Remember, the work you do today directly prepares you for the moments that will define your tomorrow.

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