Momentum Is a Powerful Beast

Last week I was sitting in the stands watching high school volleyball. My daughter is on the JV squad, and it was their last matches of the season. Early in one of the games, a few balls didn’t bounce their way, and I watched as things started to snowball. The team suddenly forgot how to p

ass, talk, or do any of the simple things that make up good volleyball.

The coaches, who are both excellent, called a timeout when the score hit seven to one. It was the right move. That short pause and a few clear words of instruction gave the team a chance to reset. When they came back out, it was like watching a completely different group. They started communicating, hustling, and stringing plays together. Every girl who rotated in played at a higher level than before.

And then something funny happened, momentum flipped. The other team started to tighten up. A few mistakes led to a few more. The confidence shifted, and eventually, our team came back and won the match.

What struck me was that neither team had changed in skill level during that timeout. The only difference was momentum.

Momentum is one of the most powerful forces in life. Once it gets rolling in one direction, it takes a lot to stop it. It can make ordinary people look extraordinary… or sadly, the other way around. In sports, business, or life, momentum doesn’t just follow skill; it amplifies it. When things are going right, every pass, every call, every decision seems to build on itself. But when things start going wrong, even the basics feel harder than they should.

That’s why I’ve come to realize it’s so important to have the right people around you both personally and professionally. People who know when to call a timeout. The ones who can spot when you’re pressing too hard or losing focus. The ones who will celebrate when things are going well but will also have the courage to speak truth when you’re drifting off course.

Momentum isn’t built by accident. It’s created through preparation, communication, and trust. And sometimes, it’s saved by those small pauses… the moments when someone steps in, reminds you of what matters, and helps you redirect before things spiral too far.

That Leads Me to This Week’s Challenge… Who are the people in your life that help you manage momentum? The ones who steady you when things start to unravel, or help you push even harder when the momentum is in your favor?

Take time this week to thank them. And make sure you’re doing the same for others. Be the person who can step in, offer perspective, and help someone else find their rhythm again.

Momentum is a powerful beast. Learn to respect it, redirect it when needed, and build it with the right people beside you.

I’m thankful you took the time to read this, for choosing to work, and for being part of what makes this world amazing.