Tim Wade Motivation & Productivity

As World Cup fever takes over the globe, and engulfs me in its frenzy as the first group stage comes to a close, there are a few life lessons we can take from what has happened so far.

Vittek of Slovakia scores against reigning World Champions Italy

1. Italy are out without winning a single game. Lesson: You can be the world champion at something 4 years ago, but if you play with fear and trepidation, and rely on deception to get ahead (their tendancy to hunt for penalties), you will come undone. It is the power of congruence. Talent without completion is potential wasted. Take positive creative action. Prioritise and work with your team-members. Don’t try to do everything on your own and be a star. No Fortune 500 company is a one-man show. Cooperation, collaboration and co-creation are the keys to Victory and success. A Mercenary mindset is one based on ego and self-importance.

2. New Zealand are out without losing a single game, but they leave with pride and Victory. Lesson: determination and a fighting spirit can see you fail as a hero to be used as a building block for future endeavours. New Zealand 2nd choice keeper Mark Paston was one of the highlights of the team and the World Cup so far. He plays for Wellington Phoenix in the Australian A-League, but look for his move to greater international pastures after an admirable performance on the World Stage. Sometimes in trials, the character of Victory is born. New Zealand showed the character of Leadership with a clear vision and goal. The challenge for them is to refine the vision from “hold out” to “power forward” with a greater sense of self-belief and a spirit of Victory.

3. USA top their group with a mindset of Victory. Lesson: positive possibilility thinking coupled with preparation and the strategic utilisation of talent leads to Victory. The American team were expected to battle for second place behind the talent and might of the English side, but the USA’s self-belief and possibility thinking saw them scale great heights. Recently commenting that they could beat any team in the competition is exactly why they shone brighter than the inventors of the game. Their reward is the “easiest” path to the finals from all that are available. Creating a culture of self-belief and team victory is vital to progress through challenges and to increase positive productive output.

4. France self-combust and come bottom of their group. Arrogance and disrespect and a blame mentality saw the French “team” destroy themselves in the World Cup. Victim mindests blame all external circumstances and the French only sought solidarity in self-destruction. When you find yourself blaming others for your circumstances, it is a warning sign that you are thinking with a Victim mindset. Start asking better questions about how you can respond effectively and what action you can take immediately to make a positive difference to your situation.

5. Australia win final match but fail to qualify. A significantly poor start can damage your chances moving forward. Lesson: a lack of self-belief at any point can keep you down in the future. Notice evidence of self-doubt and take action to overcome it. Seek evidence that supports and builds self-belief. Australia didn’t believe they could beat Germany and they proved themselves right. The 4-0 loss in their first game of the World Cup saw  them eliminated in the first round because of goal difference. Although they scored more goals than Ghana, they let 3 more in than they scored because of the 4-0 loss. Even when you’re losing a game, hanging your head instead of fighting on can be your future undoing. Australia had the talent to take it to the Germans, but not the self-belief.

That’s it for now, keep watching. My eyes are on the South American powerhouses, the Dutch and the Portuguese for further lessons…

… til then, take positive productive action!

Tim Wade

www.timwade.com

www.timwademotivation.wordpress.com