I admit it. I like football. Until my daughters-in-law came on the scene, I was the only female in my immediate family, so going to football games, watching football on TV, and talking about football was inevitable. My choices were to:
1) Be miserable from mid-August until early February or…
2) Learn to enjoy and appreciate the game.
I chose option #2.
Like all sports, football teaches some life lessons. A primary one is, “Don’t look back.”
Certainly one of the most exciting plays in a game occurs when a ball carrier breaks away from the pack and sprints down the field headed for the goal line. If he crosses the goal line and scores, it’s a thrilling moment for the player, his team, and the fans.
But how many times have you seen a runner turn his head and look back? Experienced players typically have the skill to successfully pull this off, but less experienced players can sabotage themselves by looking back. When they take their eyes off the goal, they create a greater likelihood of losing momentum. They slow down, increasing their chances of getting caught or of stumbling over their own feet.
So what lessons can you learn from this football example? There are several. When you’re headed toward a goal, keep your eyes on it. Don’t be tempted to look back because when you look back…
- You see the failures or mistakes of the past that can cause fear and anxiety
- You see the competition (or problems) breathing down your neck
- You may start doubting your ability to move forward
- You slow down, lose momentum, and can stumble.
The only reason to look back is to learn from the past. That process should take place in preparing for the game. But once the game has started, looking back serves no purpose.
Keep your eyes on your goal – and don’t look back! Keep running forward. That’s a characteristic of great teams that get great results!
Copyright 2016