“As a leader, it’s not about you, but it starts with you.”
GARY BURNISON
Failure or Success— It’s a Grand Illusion
S
etback or comeback. Failure or success. Luck or destiny. The difference between them can be a very fine line. Look no further than this year’s Winter Olympics, where the difference between the gold medal “thrill of victory” and the “agony of defeat” is measured in hundredths of seconds. I have discovered that narrow bridge between failure and success to be learning and, then of course, courage. Similarly, what turns setback into comeback is determination coupled with perseverance. In sports or in leadership, one of the most important lessons I have learned is that: It doesn’t matter what you do at the moment of failure; it’s what you do afterward that counts most. That’s what came to mind when I recently watched the NFL playoff game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Colts had gone into the second half down 28 points, and the Indianapolis quarterback, Andrew Luck, was drawing boos from the hometown crowd, having thrown two interceptions. At that exact moment of the game, the statistical probability of a Colts victory was a mere 3.6 percent, according to ESPN. But the improbable is exactly what happened, as Luck subsequently turned setback into the second-largest comeback in NFL playoff history, winning 45-44. What was equally remarkable, however, was Luck’s demeanor throughout the game, even after a failed play: no slumped shoulders or panicked expressions. Instead, you could see the confidence in his eyes. When a Colts running back fumbled at the goal line after a long drive with little over 10 minutes left in the game, Luck instinctively grabbed the ball and
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When something ignites...
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