A Season For Success: 3 Key Plays for Success and 3 Things To Stop Doing Immediately!
As the wife of a longtime pro and college football coach, I often like to include sports analogies to help my message be clearly delivered and easily understood. So many life lessons can be learned in playing a team sport. Here is my simple 3-step game plan to succeed in any new venture you desire to tackle.
3 KEY PLAYS FOR SUCCESS
In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world, success can feel like a moving target. But just like winning a football game, success boils down to planning, practicing, playing your heart out, and executing the fundamentals. Let’s break it down into three must-master skills and throw in some no-nonsense advice on habits to ditch if you’re serious about leveling up.
1. Have a Vision That Adds Value
Your vision is like the game plan. You don’t step onto the field without knowing your plays. A solid vision means knowing who you’re helping and how. It’s not just about you; it’s about your team—your customers, clients, or community.
Here’s the game-winning play: People don’t just buy products or services. They buy solutions, experiences, and trust. Be the quarterback who leads with integrity, reliability, and compassion, and your vision will naturally gain momentum. Success starts with a clear strategy that puts others first.
2. Learn How to Use Technology and AI to Grow Your Idea
In football, teams analyze every play with cutting-edge technology. Why? Because staying ahead of the competition means leveraging every tool at your disposal. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is like your game film—it helps you spot opportunities, streamline your plays, and predict outcomes.
Think of AI as your offensive line. It's there to protect your time and clear the way for bigger wins. Yes, it might change the way the game is played, but that’s not a bad thing. Growth demands evolution, and you were built to adapt.
Ask yourself: How can I use AI to amplify my strengths? Whether it’s automating repetitive tasks or brainstorming new strategies, AI can turn your vision into a championship-level performance.
3. Master Communication with a Human Touch
Winning teams don’t just execute plays; they communicate effectively. Whether it’s the coach calling plays or teammates signaling on the field, communication is key. In life and business, it’s the same. You can have the best product in the world, but if you can’t connect with people, you’ll never reach the end zone.
Pro Tip: Become the teammate everyone trusts and wants to follow. Be likable, caring, reliable, and trustworthy. Your character is your competitive advantage.
Whether you’re pitching a business idea, managing a team, or networking, hone your ability to communicate with empathy and clarity. It’s the glue that holds your game plan together.
WHAT TO STOP DOING (Immediately)
Success isn’t just about what you do; it’s also about what you don’t do. Here are three to five things to avoid so you don’t fumble the ball:
Stop Making Excuses Success doesn’t come with a free pass for self-pity. Excuses are like blaming the refs for a bad call. Own your mistakes, learn from them, and move forward. Even if you were right and it was a bad call, don’t waste energy on things you cannot change. Use it fuel you to grow and get better.
Stop Resisting Change Change isn’t your enemy; stagnation is. Just like teams adjust their strategies mid-game, you need to embrace change as your growth partner. Games are not won on game day…they are won in the daily consistent practice and preparation.
Stop Doing Everything Alone No one wins a football game solo. Collaborate, delegate, and seek out mentors. Great quarterbacks rely on their team, and so should you.
Stop Chasing Perfection Perfection is the enemy of progress. Focus on taking consistent, imperfect action. You’ll learn more and move faster by trying, failing, and adjusting than by overthinking your next play.
Stop Neglecting Relationships Business is personal. Just like a team’s chemistry can make or break a season, your relationships matter. Build meaningful connections, not just transactions. It’s a long game, but it’s the only game worth playing.
Success isn’t reserved for the lucky or the privileged. It’s for the intentional, the adaptive, and the relational. Master your vision, embrace technology, and communicate like your victory depends on it. Let go of the habits and fears holding you back, and you’ll find that success isn’t a distant dream—it’s a touchdown waiting to happen.
Your next play? Pick one area to focus on this week. Maybe it’s clarifying your vision, exploring a new AI tool, or practicing better communication. Start small, but start now.
Because the world needs what only you can bring to the game.
