18 Jan Lead Change
Last Sunday, we were jumping up and down, screaming and applauding the NFL playoff game of the San Francisco 49ers vs the Philadelphia Eagles. Our friend Jim said, “How could anyone not love competitive sports?” He’s right and it has been true since 776 BC when the Greeks kicked off the first Olympic Games. Today, drone shots of the stadiums hosting the NFL playoffs show 60-70,000 screaming fans. Time has only increased humans’ appetite for competition.
In any important game, surprises, twists and turns captivate audiences. These NFL playoff games set a record for most lead changes in the fourth quarter. In the first weekend of the Wild Card games, three out of four teams were trailing in the final three minutes, but came back to win. And the San Francisco 49ers held a scant 4-point lead, almost losing in the last minute, were it not for an incomplete pass.
When you speak, you’re competing, and anything can happen. Stay focused and commit to your success, even when things don’t go your way. For example, your opening was solid, then you lost your place, or your energy flagged and the audience slipped away. But the game isn’t over. Take a pause, breathe, place your intention front and center, and then deliver with certainty and commitment until the last possible second. Snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
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