Make the most of the reps you get.

One of the best pieces of career advice I have heard came from Tom Brady.

When Brady was in college, he was frustrated that he wasn't getting the opportunities he wanted. He knew he could do more, but he wasn't getting enough reps to prove it.

His sports psychologist gave him some simple advice: every time you get an opportunity, bring energy. Bring enthusiasm. If they give you three reps, make the most of those three reps.

That stuck with Brady.

It also applies to business.

A lot of people spend their careers waiting for the big opportunity. The promotion. The big project. The chance to lead the team. The meeting with the executive. The moment when someone finally gives them a chance to show what they can do.

But most careers don't work that way.

Sometimes your opportunity is a small project nobody wants. Sometimes it's sitting in a meeting instead of running it. Sometimes it's fixing a problem that isn't technically your responsibility.

That's your rep.

You don't get to control how many opportunities you are given. You do get to control what you do with the ones you get.

If they give you three reps, give them your best three reps.

Because people notice the person who consistently makes the most of small opportunities. And eventually, that person gets trusted with bigger ones.

The takeaway is simple: don't wait for your big opportunity. Make the most of the opportunity you have today.

As a manager, this is also a good question to bring to your team.

Maybe it's a difficult customer conversation, a project that needs to get done, a presentation, or helping a teammate. Whatever it is, identify the three things where you have an opportunity to make a difference and commit to doing them well.

Then take the conversation one step further as a manager:

Sometimes someone isn't ready for the bigger opportunity. Sometimes they just haven't been given enough reps.

That's part of our job as managers. Give people opportunities, and then pay attention to what they do with them.