Life Lessons from Football

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Kelsey Warren, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

1. Patience
What is the first moment of a NFL player’s career? That’s right, the draft! For those of you who are not familiar with the draft, it’s a grown up version of picking kickball teams as a kid where those with the power choose their favorites. All star players are guaranteed to get picked quickly, but mid level players sit and wait all night hoping their name gets called before it ends. You might be wondering how this deals with your patience in particular, especially when you might not consider yourself to be an “all star” player. To that I say, have you ever heard of Tom Brady? He was a sixth round draft pick in 2000 and has since won the Superbowl 3 times and was named game MVP 2 of those times; he continues to be the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots. Or how about Alfred Morris? He was also drafted in the sixth round in 2012 and according to rotoworld.com he ranked second in rushing yards (1,613), second in touchdowns (13) and fifth among feature backs in YPC (4.8). He also avoided/broke 57 tackles and gained 1,001 yards after contact, both good for third-best in ProFootballFocus’ rankings. These stand out players teach us that sometimes the first picked isn’t always the best. It can be hard to miss out on that promotion that was given to someone else, or to feel like you’re not making any progress on that home improvement project you started last month. Take a deep breath and be have patience. Know that something better could be coming your way and trust in life’s timing. Also know this, you are an all star player. You are able and you can be successful. Just like these players, you will shine when the right fit comes your way.

2. Goal Setting
Do you think NFL coaches sit their players down at the beginning of each season and say “Okay boys, let’s do our best today?” Maybe, but I think they also create a vision for long term team goals and share that with their players. I image a coach saying “We will win the East Division this year”, “We will make it to the playoffs” or “We will win the Superbowl!” Seeing the long term vision of where you want to go can make it easier to create a plan to get there. Just as I’m sure a football team isn’t going to make it to the Superbowl without short term goals of daily training and weekly wins, you aren’t going to make progress to your long term goal without daily and weekly objectives. So what is your long term goal? Finances to take that vacation next summer, losing 50 pounds, or maybe taking the plunge into a career change? Have you thought of it? Great! Now, break it down. What do you need to be doing this month and in three months and in six months? What are daily habits you need to begin now? Short term planning and long term goal setting will be crucial to your future success!

3. Motivation
It’s the 4th quarter of the football game, it’s November, a night game, and it’s cold! The players are cramping up and running low on energy. What keeps them in the game? That’s right, motivation! When your in the “4th quarter” of your long term goal, how are you going to keep going? You need to figure out what it is that will encourage you on. For some, this might be a buddy who is committed to checking in on your progress and encourages you to continue. For others it might be that long term goal written out somewhere you see it daily; each time you look at it, you repeat it as a mantra for your day. Some might even be encouraged to continue by looking back and seeing how far you’ve come. I even have friends who have decided on ice cream. That’s right, ice cream; each week if my friend finishes her homework before the weekend, she gets to reward herself with ice cream. This might be easy to think of or it might require thought. I encourage you to put some real thought into it and answer the questions of “What motivates me?” Your goals and your progress will thank you in the 4th quarter.

4. Surviving Injuries
If you’ve ever played fantasy football, you’re familiar with injuries! Each week several players will miss out on their games due to breaks, strains, and pains. Does this mean the team is destined to lose that week? Of course not. The team reworks plays and pulls up second string players and gets the job done. Personally, the player takes time to heal and works to regain full strength so they can come back as strong as they were before. In life, we also sometimes find ourselves on the injury list. When life gets you down I think it’s important to remember how the players get back into the game. First they take time to heal. Rushing an injury or pushing though usually makes it worse. If you’re facing certain situations such as a physical ailment, depression, or financial strains ignoring it is going to make it worse. Allow yourself permission to press pause and get help from a trained professional. Once you’re getting help, really put in the work to making the changes that are needed. Only then will you be able to reenter the game of life stronger than when you left.

5. Teamwork
A MVP all star player is capable of many amazing things. But, this type of player is not capable of single-handedly winning all the games. It takes a team effort. A quarterback won’t amount to much without great receivers or a strong offensive line. When it comes to reaching our own goals, we also need strong support. If it’s a work goal, get your office involved! Maybe start a competition of who can raise their sales the most this month or let your boss know about that goal so he or she can encourage you towards it. Is it a home improvement or financial goal? Get the family involved! Your spouse is a valuable asset in keeping you on track and helping in the tangible steps. Other great resources are your friends, your social networks (I know you all belong to gyms, bowling leagues, and crafting clubs!), and your church. It is your goal, but you do not have to achieve it alone. Allow others to help and enjoy the company along the way.