The unexpected results pouring in from the World Cup football tournament in Doha provide rich lessons in motivation, hope and perseverance. Ranging from leadership and unity of purpose, to plain belief in the task ahead, this year’s World Cup has given life lessons like no other.
More than any other time, Qatar’s World Cup has broken old myths of untouchable teams and even individuals. With the rise of unlikely victories like those of South Korea, Saudi Arabia and of course, Morocco’s advance to the semi-finals, the only takeaway seems to be that anything is possible.
Of course, dreamy results do not just come our way without hard work. But without the dream, or at least a clear goal in mind, and an even clearer path towards it, it is difficult to plan the endgame adequately. Working hard is a cliché, but it is the only path to success.
Leadership and teamwork are two sides of the same coin. While a leader, in this case the captain or the coach, provide the overarching vision and strategy, none of that would be worth much without everybody in the team working together towards the agreed strategy. Working together means more than finishing a project together – it means pulling each other up in times of crises, appreciating others’ qualities and even being prepared to give others a chance to shine.
Communication is key to a good team, as seen in so many matches. This takes the form of overt exchange of ideas but also creating conditions that make overt conversations unnecessary. A shared project is completed only when everyone understands its vision, preferably after sustained discussion, debate and vigorous analysis. Listening to others, accommodating opposing points of view and compromising for the larger good are all features of a good team.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway this time is perseverance. While various countries will go back to the drawing board to discuss what went wrong in their respective losses, the winners are those to have stayed with the game in spite of successive losses, near misses or downright defeats. Being able to pull oneself up after defeat, learning from mistakes and rising wiser and more motivated is the only way to succeed in life, or in football.
Above all, there is always an element of luck in football, as much as there is in life. No one knows this better than all the giants who have come crashing down in this year’s edition of the World Cup. Success lasts only until the next season, but what does remain are the qualities of perseverance, commitment, energy and purpose. But more than that, kindness, sportsmanship, humility and pride are all qualities that define a good player as well as a good human being. These are life’s takeaways.
‘Keep an eye on the ball,’ is an apt reference to football, but it is even more a lesson on life – one that teaches us to focus, not only on the game, but also on what it makes us human.
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