Insights

Happy Friday!

Welcome to this week's edition of "Insights" (#210)

A good friend, a dedicated Super Bowl fan with a fervor for green living, aired his dismay on social media that his eco-efforts felt meaningless after learning about nearly 1000 private jets carrying celebrities to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas last Sunday.????The stadium was filled to capacity with over 60,000 attendees. Yet that's not all. Forbes reported that the Super Bowl garnered a record 123 million viewers, making it the most-watched TV event since Apollo 11. Just consider the immense pressure one would face knowing that this many millions of people are observing your every move on the field. As one of those 123 million viewers, I picked up several insights from the game that I'd like to share with you today.

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The visiting team, SF 49’ers, displayed outstanding performance, giving a tough fight throughout the match. By the halftime show, they appeared to be leading, with the scoreboard in their favor. However, when the fourth quarter began, they faced a critical decision. They had the option of taking a field goal to level the score, but they chose to take a risk and go for a touchdown. This demonstrated that it's not just talent and skill, but also strategy that distinguishes a team –?Strategy.

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The home team, the Kansas Chiefs, put up a phenomenal display for the millions of fans, lifting the trophy with pride and demonstrating their dedicated hard work and persistent 'never say never' attitude. At no point did the game appear one-sided, and they fought for it until the very last minute, quite literally. Their decisive touchdown came with only three seconds left on the clock –?Endurance.

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One of the grandest features of the Super Bowl is the halftime show, a spectacle lasting barely 15 minutes but into which millions of dollars are poured. You may not have noticed, but during this extravaganza, the band on the field assembled into a formation spelling 'USHER'. The cameras may not have lingered on this image for more than a few fleeting moments. However, this small detail wouldn't have diminished the band's rigorous preparation or their commitment to giving their best –?Committed effort.

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All these elements – Strategy, Endurance, and Committed effort – are the essential ingredients needed for any individual, team, or organization to remain successful and on top of their game. Pun intended, of course!??

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As we come together in celebration of the Super Bowl, I encourage each of you to examine these traits within your professional sphere:

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Strategy:?What plans have you laid out for yourself and your teams to achieve success? How regularly do you revisit these strategies to ensure their continued relevance and effectiveness?

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Endurance:?In the expansive realm of large enterprises, it sometimes feels akin to fighting an uphill battle when it comes to implementing changes or inspiring resilience. How do you encourage your teams to persist and to rise above the challenges?

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Committed Effort:?There's no substitute for sincere, committed effort. However, maintaining that commitment can prove challenging when your contributions might not immediately appear impactful or acknowledged. How do you convey the bigger picture to your team and keep them motivated towards the end goal?

In closing, let me leave you with this insight from Muhammad Ali, “It isn't the mountain ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe.”

Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay blessed. Thank you and have a wonderful weekend.

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