Kazira

Was that a nail-biter of a match or what??? If you missed it or only caught the last few quarters, be sure to watch the entire game on YouTube, etc. You get to see how two well deserving and competent teams duke and grind it out in the middle, and how a great final is scripted. I made sure that all of my weekend errands were completed on time so that I could get that prime seat, in front of my 50" HD TV, and watch the final. Now I wasn't rooting for any particular team but was keen on getting a decent return on the time I was about to invest in front of the TV. All I wanted was a good duel and then, as they say - May the best team win! It was also kind of special as this was the first time my 3 year old son was going to watch this great American tradition. It was also an opportunity for me to introduce him to some basic rules of the sport.

I am sure most of you would agree with me that there are a number of similarities between how a good team or player plans and executes on the footbal field and how a good company or employee does the same in a work environment. Like any great sporting tradition, you always have certain key take-aways or lessons, which are equally applicable to an individual's professional career as they are to a player's sporting career. Whether it is strategy, planning, execution, relationships, situational fluency, maturity, or team-work - the list goes on and on - one can take a lesson, a quality, or an approach from the work field and reasonably apply to the sport field. Doing the opposite would be equally appropriate and meaningful.

Certain parts, plays, and players of the Super Bowl XLII stood out for me and I thought it would be worth sharing them with all of you -

1. Mental toughness is a key differentiator - Although Eli Manning was considered talented and deserving to be in the Super Bowl, he was still considered a David to Tom Brady, the Goliath. Eli had a formidable and champion opponent in the form of Tom but he looked more determined than any other person on that field, that day. He knew he had nothing to lose and everything to gain, which is exactly what he used to motivate himself and stay focussed. His on-field agility, accuracy, presence of mind, and play-making clearly demonstrated the highlights of a good leader, whether it's in sports or business.

2. Sometimes numbers do not always tell the real story - Sometimes one needs to look beyond numbers. During the first half, Giants completed more yards than the Patriots (139 to 81) and held on to the footbal twice as long. However the scoreboard still showed the Giants trailing the Patriots by 4 points at the half way mark. As much as numbers help bring clarity to a situation, always make sure that you understand the context as that will help you put things in perspective and lead you to draw more informed decisions.

3. Being tagged as a favorite works both ways - Prior to the game, Patriots had been set aside as the overwhelming favorites to win the championship. They had had a perfect season and had been literally untouchable all season long. Forecasts were being made regarding all kinds of prior NFL records being broken. Of course, they were getting all the primetime news coverage and adulation, but guess what, they were also feeling the pressure that comes along with being a favorite. There are a truck load of expectations that come along with that tag and that is something that is not always easily handled. If you find yourself being one (a favorite), do not let that get to your head, do not get bogged down by what people may or may not say or think, and most importantly, never forget what helped you get to where you are.

4. It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings - The 4th quarter showed the true, fighting character of the two teams. The lead exchanged hands a few times and both teams, at one point or another, thought they had The Vince Lombardi Trophy in the bag. But it all came down to the wire. The Gaints were behind in the final minutes and only a Touchdown could get them the ultimate prize. Even though the clock was not on their side, they never gave up. Their offence, led by their soon-to-be crowned MVP, led a spirited and determined string of plays and runs, which eventually got them the glory. Every second, minute, hour, and day counts and matters. Throwing in the towel, before the buzzer, is never and should never be an option. That one last drive or effort could be the difference between winning or losing the contest!

5. Competetion always raises performance - Finally, what was on display were two fine footbal teams, who had earned deserving spots in the finals. The level, quality, and caliber of plays were of the highest class. Each team knew that the other team was equally, if not more competetive, and that is what helps one reach in to their hearts and souls, and raise their performance to the next level. Never be afraid of your competetion, be it on an individual, team, or company level. Learn from your competetion, be inspired from your competetion, use the competetion to your advantage. Google versus Yahoo. Oracle versus SAP. Toyota versus GM. India versus China. Federer versus Nadal. Plenty of examples out there for you to study and learn from.