With 18:25 left to go in the second half of the Saint Mary’s vs. Indiana Hoosiers first round NCAA Basketball tournament game, the contest came to a sudden halt. The actual basketball became lodged between the top of the backboard and the 24-second clock.
No player could jump high enough to retrieve it. Officials could not locate a broom long enough to poke it free. Players were not tall enough to reach the ball even when standing on a chair. But it was at this moment one of the most heartwarming moments you will see all year took place.
Two Indiana cheerleaders named Nathan Paris and Cassidy Cerny improvised and came up with a solution. Nathan would literally press Cassidy above his head enabling her to get the ball down and allow the game to continue. The viral video of what happened next is shown below:
The announcers had the play-by-play for the heroics from the cheerleaders.
"SHE'S GOT IT. OH WHAT A PLAY!"
🎥 @CBSSportspic.twitter.com/5Enhk62Vpl
— The Athletic CBB (@TheAthleticCBB) March 18, 2022
As I watched the video, I gleaned 5 Leadership Lessons from this One Shining Moment:
The Value of Preparation
As pointed out by the announcers and INJOY Stewardship Solutions owner Joe Sangl, you never know when your “One Shining Moment” will happen. So be prepared. Nathan and Cassidy were obviously physically trained to perform the stunt which would allow the game to continue. As a result, “The cheerleader saves the day and that’s her One Shining Moment!!!”
The Value of Situational Awareness
In addition to being prepared, you must be ready to act. There is a difference between sensing opportunity and seizing it. Smart leaders are constantly aware of what is going on around them at any given moment and the needs which may arise. This leads to my next point.
The Value of Creativity
Most people think creativity is thinking outside-the-box. While this is sometimes true, creativity is actually thinking inside-the-box and differently about finding solutions to problems with the tools and resources you already have.
Nathan told People.com in this article, “They kept trying different ways and nothing really was working. And so all of us kind of looked at each other and our captain, Ethan, [said], ‘We need the tallest guy to lift somebody up to see if we can get to the top of the backboard.'” Nathan thought, “So, I’m one of the tallest on the team, so I grabbed Cassidy and said, ‘Maybe this’ll work.’
God once told Moses everything he needed “was inside his hand.” In other words, he already had all the resources he needed to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt. He just needed to think differently about how to utilize what was already at his disposal.
While game officials tried a number of solutions to this problem, their answer was only a few feet away in cheerleaders Nathan Paris and Cassidy Cerny. After all, cheerleaders are used to lifting people high up in the air! This was a creative inside-the-box solution.
The Value of Creation
You cannot have creativity without creation. As previously mentioned, Nathan and Cassidy thought lifting her up might work. Well, it did work! The cheerleaders actually got the ball down. It’s not creativity if you don’t create results.
The Value of Celebration
People celebrate creativity in others. Their art brings us joy. Whether it is a musician, singer, dancer, comedian, athlete, painter, writer, or Indiana cheerleader, we delight in the innovation and originality coming from our fellow human beings. Nathan Paris and Cassidy Cerny certainly brought joy. The announcer said, “This place is on its feet!!! The cheerleader is the hero in Portland!!!” As you could see in the video, no one was celebrating more than Cassidy herself.
Paris concluded to People, “It’s kind of a once in a lifetime thing and we’ve just decided let’s just ride this wave as far as we can. And if we can keep bringing joy and bring happiness with this moment, then that’s great.”
Your Own One Shining Moment
When it comes to your personal One Shining Moment, you might not know when it will occur. So be prepared. Pay attention to your surroundings and have situational awareness. Think differently. Create something and then celebrate. Finally, ride the wave as far as you can!!!
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Therefore, the fundamentals of leadership are more important than ever. The quotes in this book deal with the basics of leadership. If you want to be the best leader you can possibly be, click HERE or on the image provided to download this FREE resource. The lessons learned from last year, if applied, will sustain you for years to come.