Three lessons for career success from FIFA World Cup

By Glenford Smith, Career Writer

Sports, the aphorism goes, is a microcosm of life. That insight suggests that sports can teach a lot about how to win in the game of life. That is true of all sports - athletics, cricket, skeet shooting, martial arts, swimming, and yes, football, to name a few.

With 'the greatest show on Earth' - FIFA World Cup Football 2014 - in full gear, there are, therefore, innumerable lessons to learn from each game, and the championship overall. It's an exciting time for die-hard football fans and the clueless alike, as everyone supports 'his' or 'her' side.

This column fully supports milking the World Cup for its full entertainment value. Yes, let us 'watch some ball' and have some fun. It suggests, however, that we take more from the games than the entertainment: that we extract some educational value as well.

As we watch the games, let us also actively look for the success lessons we can apply in our careers and our lives, generally. Here are three important ones to start.

1. Dare to dream

It's every footballer's dream to play in the FIFA World Cup. It's the ultimate stage to match wits and skills against the best in the world, before multiple millions of spectators. Yet, for each of the 23 players comprising the 32 World Cup squads, it all started out as a dream. And for most, an impossible dream, unlikely at best.

Yet each of them got in the game, they committed to their sport, and worked hard to join the ranks of the elite. Many excellent footballers never get to play in 'the greatest show on Earth.' But these 736 stars dared to dream, and their dreams came true.

Dare to dream big. Never let anything or anyone convince you that success is impossible for you. Author and speaker Les Brown advises: "Aim for the moon, and even if you miss, you'll land among the stars".

2. Be a team player

Regardless of the genius of individual players, it's almost always the case that it's the best team that will win. T-E-A-M is often used as an acronym which means Together Everyone Achieves More. It's true: to attain the best you're capable of in your career, enlist the help of others.

Also, at work, share the praise and rewards with your team members, not just the work and blame.

3. Play to win, but learn to fail forward

One of the first lessons Coach Glen Mills taught Usain Bolt after his disappointing 2004 Athens Olympics experience was: "You have to learn to lose in order to win". It's the same in football and every career.

Spain came to the World Cup as defending champions and favourites, yet they started their games with an ignominious 5-1 loss to Netherlands. They will have to rebuild.

If you fail one job interview or lose a sale or promotion, don't quit. Keep going. Success in any important endeavour comes only after you've paid the price in persistent, unremitting effort over a long time. That requires an ability to master setbacks.

Glenford Smith is a motivational speaker and success strategist. He is the author of 'From Problems to Power' and co-author of 'Profile of Excellence'. glenfordsmith@yahoo.com