Our lives are filled with competition that often boil down to critical one-on-one moments.   Our ability to recognize the importance of these moments, and rise to the challenge, will ultimately define our personal and professional success.

And one simple story illustrates the power of these moments.

It All Comes Down to One Play

For several years after college, a close group of friends and I participated in a Sunday flag football league. It was the perfect balance between social interaction and serious competition. When we stepped on the field, we wanted to win. And we cast aside all hangovers and other obstacles in pursuit of victory!

One year, we advanced to the championship. With the score tied late in the game, we had the ball and were one play away from securing the trophy. Our quarterback threw a jump ball to our top receiver in the corner of the end zone. There was a single defender standing between victory and defeat.

Everything happened in slow motion. And as the ball hung in the air, our receiver shouted:

“You and me, baby!”

The words echoed across the field long before the ball ever reached the players. It all came down to this moment. It is the beauty and simplicity of sports. Winners and losers. Mano a mano. You and me, baby!

And don’t we all have to recognize and conquer those same moments in our professional and personal lives?

Competition is About Maximum Effort

Perhaps we are going against a colleague for a promotion. Perhaps we are battling a rival firm for the same piece of business. Perhaps we are trying to unseat an incumbent in an established market. It’s all about recognizing and reacting to the challenge!

Competition is the ultimate motivator. But winning takes hard work.

We need to study and analyze the strong points and weaknesses of our competition. And that comes from a healthy respect. The competition is not our enemy. But they are standing in the way of what we truly deserve.  So what are we going to do about it?

We need to rise to the occasion. We need to exert maximum effort. We need to create the urgency to win.  The opportunity won’t just fall in our laps. We can’t wait around for someone else to grab the ball. Competition is about taking action.  And in order to win, we have to seize the moment!

It’s you and me, baby! 

Let’s go make it happen.

We Can’t Always See Our Competition

But sometimes, our competition is not so obvious. Sometimes, our greatest battles come from within.

Our tendency to procrastinate. Our loss of hope. Our lack of confidence.

These are worthy opponents.  And they become more formidable if we allow them to dictate our actions. In order to overcome our internal demons, we have to change the conversation! But we have to remember that the journey to victory does not start tomorrow.  It starts today!

Of course we have a chance at success. Of course we have a shot at a better life. Of course we deserve to be happy. 

We have to fight those negative voices inside our head. We have to fight the comfort of settling for the status quo. We have to fight our own weaknesses.  And we have to fight them now!

We can’t take on the competition tomorrow unless we win the internal battle today.

It’s you and me, baby!

Nothing can stand in our way!

But It’s Not Always Going to Work Out

What happens when we exude confidence and still come up short? What happens when we study our competition and still end up on the losing end? What happens when it’s “you and me” and “you” wins?

We drop the pass. We lose the game.  We lose the sale. We lose market share.  We fail to get the promotion.  Our confidence withers.

Nobody goes through life undefeated. Nobody comes out of a battle without scars. Nobody pops the champagne after every competition.

But our ability to work hard gives us confidence for the next battle. Our hunger for a better life gives us the strength to fight again.    Our resilience is fueled not by the number of victories, but by the ability to rise to the occasion over and over even after tasting defeat.

Resilience Can Never Lose

As long as we stay positive and keep moving forward, we will always have a shot at redemption. We will always have a path to victory. We will always have an opportunity to come out ahead of the competition!

As long as we keep playing the game, we can never lose.

It’s you and me, baby! 

And I know we will win in the end!

Until next week, keep smiling!