(Charlotte Sting center Clarisse Machanguana has a lot on her mind. "Mach" (as she's widely known around the league ... and, by the way, it's pronounced "mosh") is here to share her take in a regular column, Mach Pit. Mach wants to talk to you about current events, hot topics -- on the court, off the court -- whatever comes to her mind. Read on to take your turn in the Mach Pit.)

A Small Taste of the Pie

A couple of months ago when I arrived in North Carolina, a very wise woman said to a group of 12 players: "The secret to successfully achieving a goal is to focus on the big picture and enjoy the process that it takes you to get there, for the road won't be direct and free of obstacles. If you focus on the big picture, you will keep things in perspective."

That woman was Trudi Lacey, our Assistant Coach with the Charlotte Sting, whom I had never met until this year's training camp. Obviously when you lose 10 games in a row, keeping the focus on the big picture can be the most challenging thing one can do.

"... making the playoffs is a goal that every player expects to reach but it's just a small taste of the pie -- the real challenge is staying on that path to reach the biggest piece of the pie."

Essentially when you live in a society where people are measured by immediate results, the likes of belief, faith and determination can seem crazy and impossible. But like Trudi had said, there is no straight walk to the path of your dreams and our record is the best testimony to such a truthful statement.

I have often been asked what it means to be in the playoffs and as simple as the question might seem, I have always had a hard time finding the best way to express what it means. Let's see ... making the playoffs is a goal that every player expects to reach but it's just a small taste of the pie -- the real challenge is staying on that path to reach the biggest piece of the pie.

Now here is the part that may lead you to think that I just love being contrary to the majority, but I strongly believe that the winner is not always the best group of players in the game. Playoff time is like a second season for not only the motivation, but the commitment and strategies are put in a higher gear. The postseason requires mental toughness -- the time where the nagging injuries must be forgotten, the struggles throughout the season must serve as a lesson for the now do-or-die games, and actions must speak louder than what has seemed like should be promised.

So there you have it -- playoffs is simply the reflection of the most mentally tough group walking the path of challenge with their eyes on the big picture, tasting the bigger piece of the pie.

"The search of authenticity is like living on a fault line; You never know when the Earth is going to move beneath your feet."
--Neal Walsh

Clarisse Machanguana