Believe It And You Can Do It

Ok, I know many of you do not care about sports. I get that. I do, however. I am a big believer in what we can learn from sporting events and athletes as they train hard, practice intensely, prepare themselves for battle and compete ferociously, frequently winning on pure guts and determination, focus and commitment. These attributes can be more powerful than simply being a better athlete than your opponent. This concept has a huge application to other aspects of our lives, especially in our business arenas.

We have seen it before many times. The Boston Red Sox of 2004 World Series fame, came back when down three games to beat the Yankees four in a row, sweeping them out of the Division championship and then went on to win the World Series. However, the defining moment was their refusing to lose to the Yankees and doing the near impossible, beating them four games in a row.

Some of you may remember the “Miracle On Ice” during the 1980 Olympics, an incredible game where Team USA played to beat the “unbeatable” Soviet team, regarded as the best semblance of hockey player talent in the world. Our boys, a bunch of young, inexperienced collegiate and amateur players performed the impossible by playing well above their expected skill level and beating the Soviets in one of the  most unbelievable victories over a far superior team.

A few nights ago, the Red Sox did it again. Down 7-0 in the 7th inning, a seemingly insurmountable lead to overcome and yet they came back with a ferocious victory scoring eight runs in two innings to prevent elimination and gain the right to play again tonight. And, if they win tonight, they will play again two more times until one of them wins the series. Wow. This is competition at its best. Refusing to lose, insisting on winning, making it happen. Nine men on the field playing together as a team with one unified goal and accomplishing it: victory.

If we analyze these stunning comebacks and victories we will note one classic demonstration: It is seldom a result of one of the superstars performing his miracles. It is typically because the whole team pulls together and with many individual small steps (or even giant steps) the team collectively fashions a victory out of the jaws of defeat because they believe in themselves and in their ultimate ability to achieve victory. It’s always a team effort that wins, never individual heroics. As it was with the Red Sox and the USA hockey team – because they believed.

Manny said it best in the middle of the Red Sox four game comeback, “Keep the faith, baby!”

I believe that’s the lesson we can take from this review and apply it to our business challenges and life challenges no matter what they may be. “Keep the faith, baby.” We can win against all sorts of odds if we want it badly enough, if we believe we can overcome the odds and the opposition. Its not about just the boss wanting the victory, it’s about the whole company pulling together with everyone doing their job to the best of their ability and then beyond their best, better than they have ever done before, pushing themselves to reach for the stars. Collectively this can accomplish unprecedented victory overcoming any and all odds, no matter what the opposition may be.

So again tonight I say, “Go Red Sox” and again tomorrow as they show the world what “Keep the faith, baby” really means. I also say to you, keep the faith, baby. Your victory is attainable no matter what the odds may be and what the opposition may put before you. If you believe and then inspire your team – your employees – to believe, anything can happen.