The term “glass ceiling” most commonly refers to situations where advancement is stopped at a lower level due to some form of discrimination. In the case of this article, we often times hold ourselves back from advancing because we’re stuck in a place where we have been for so long. We want to improve but we hold ourselves back. We lose to players that we look up to. We tell ourselves, “I’ve never beaten him before. He’s better than me.” In turn, we are the ones discriminating against ourselves and our own abilities.
As we improve, we may leave some of our peers behind. We will also inevitably face players that were at one point better than us. By now, we may be pretty even with them or in some cases even better than them. Regardless of how much we admire their game, we can’t lose sight of our own abilities. Remembering how great they are and how much we idolize them only reinforces that glass ceiling. The truth is: we might be able to beat them but if we still look at ourselves as that timid beginner player, then we stand no chance.
The only way to break through the invisible barrier we’ve created is to compete, compete, and then compete some more. Hiding out in your basement for two years shooting nothing but drills might give you the knowledge and skills, but it will not give you that competitive edge and tournament toughness required to beat your hero. How well competition pressure is handled is what separates the ball-bangers from the masters.
The first couple times we play the local champ, we get our butts handed to us. We go back and practice. The next time, maybe we make some really nice runs but miss the money ball. We go back and practice that shot. In the next tournament, run a few more racks but still lose. We go back and work on our break shot. Until, eventually, we finally beat them. If we continue the hard work, the day will come.
We may not beat them again the next time after that, but we now know they’re beatable. They all are. Congratulations, you’ve just taken the first step towards breaking the glass ceiling.
Glass ceilings can be set by us, our peers, our family, or any of those random thoughts that creep into our subconscious. We’ll never break through if we don’t believe in ourselves and accept our own improvements. It’s not who you were, it’s the player that you’ve become. Keep practicing, keep competing, and keep breaking through.
Samm Diep, PoolTipJar.com © January 2009
[...] wrote about a similar phenomenon in a recent article where you sometimes psych yourself out because you play someone that you’re so used to losing [...]