The fastest way to make me fall asleep is to ask me to watch a football match.
Smiles!
I guess some ladies can relate. I’m not a fan of football, but something striking happened one day.
One day, I decided to watch a football match. A certain force just got me interested that day, and I fell in love with what was playing in my head as I watched.
Ironically, I wasn’t watching the match with the same mindset that every football lover would normally watch a football match (to know which team would win).
Rather, I watched everything that was actually happening on the field, and studied it carefully.
Before the match started, each team prayed. As soon as the game began, every player focused on the ball.
I saw the passion with which every player strived to get the ball. Even when a player was with the ball, other opponents were dribbling him just to snatch that ball, but he faced them and dribbled them too, as he tried to pass the ball to his team player. Why? Because he trusted that they had the SAME MISSION.
Meanwhile, the commentators were busy telling the world which player was doing badly, who almost did well and who actually did well.
I noticed that each team had a coach, and one could tell if a player was doing well on the field by the look on the face of their coach.
I noticed that only players who scored a goal were announced and celebrated; even the headlines picked it up.
Meanwhile, there were rules. Every player who broke the rules got a red card.
Players who could not score in the 1st half got another chance in the 2nd half to help their team score more goals.
There was so much work to do on that field.
Definitely, any player who went to play with no determination and focus on the ball wouldn’t be recognised except by football fans who would probably say: “That player is very sluggish! He can’t even play. He should be replaced, so that the team can win.”
The whole drama in my head got me inspired. I likened a football match to life’s journey and our destiny path.
Every player prays before the match starts, but only those who work hard enough will be celebrated.
So, if you decide to pray all night with no hard work, you cannot become a success with idle hands.
Every player is passionate about scoring a goal, and as such, they do not take their eyes off the ball.
How passionate are you towards achieving your goals in life? Or are you aimless in life? Your decision defines your reality.
Players are dribbled, but they stay focussed on retaining the ball. They do not just allow their opponents to take the ball from them.
In life, you will get a lot of distractions trying to take your eyes off your goals. Will you allow that? You should refuse to get distracted on your journey. Anything on the way that won’t boost your performance should be ignored and discarded.
When players are dribbled, they try to pass the ball to their fellow team players.
In life, do you have the right friends who are on the same page with you? I mean GOOD FRIENDS with POSITIVE ENERGY & VIBES who want to see the best in you and try to encourage you to pursue your goals?
Or is your network filled with backward-thinking people who never challenge you intellectually with conversations around business, innovation, the future of work, new ideas, career advancement, and the like? Remember, you will soon be like the people you spend time with.
Commentators talk about every activity on the field.
Do you know that you are being watched by a number of people and what you do will be publicly announced somehow? Are you really living a meaningful life? Or you think you owe humanity nothing?
“You were not born to decorate the earth. You were born to shake the world with your impact.”
– Eno Sam
The coach watches his players play and he gives a signal when they’re taking the wrong moves on the field in order to help them perform better.
Do you have a forward-thinking coach or mentor in your life, career and business who guides you on your journey or corrects you when you seem to be taking wrong moves?
Players on the field are only recognised and celebrated when they score a goal or more. Commentators pick up their names and announce.
Are you striving to make great impact and achieve your goals in life? Remember, nobody is ever celebrated for being mediocre.
Players who mess up get a red card.
How diligent are you in your service and work? Are you misbehaving when you should be serious-minded? Have you ever sat down to weigh the implications and consequences of living a carefree life? You need to always put your best foot forward.
There is always a 2nd half in every football match, an opportunity to do better, but once the whistle is blown, that’s the end.
Are you making use of opportunities that come your way right now? Or do you think you have all day?
How about that book you wanted to write? How about that project you wanted to execute?
How about that goal you wanted to crush? What happened?
Did procrastination take over and stop you?
Just like the football match, you have so much work to do on the field of life.
Be focused on your goal!
Be determined!
Be time-conscious!
Make the right friends!
THERE IS A SEED OF GREATNESS IN YOU WAITING TO BE IGNITED.
Live your life like you are a player on a football field. Take 100% responsibility for your life and live your best life.
