LIFE & BUSINESS NUGGETS FROM THE WORLD CUP FINALS: GERMANY V ARGENTINA.

The Game Of Games

As we settled down to watch what the commentators called the "game of games" I wondered what the lessons will be. Will there be new lessons learnt? Will they be any different from the ones I shared from the Germany vs. Ghana match or the most recent from the massacre of the Germans over the Brazilians? Would my thesis and lessons hold up to scrutiny? I secretly prayed that Germany would win just so my previous comments would remain valid.
I have to admit, in between confirming which team was wearing what jersey so I could tell which team was Germany (I honestly got confused by the goal keepers' uniforms –not sure which goal post was for what country) –please don't laugh. It's my 3rd match.

Any here are my additional observations and lessons from the final match. (Please read the previous ones here).

THE LESSON OF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
(At the risk of losing my male readers and friends...but I have to say this WOMEN LEADERS ROCK! Period

Is it a coincidence that the host country of the World Cup Brazil and the two finalists Germany & Argentina all have female leaders?
(Imagine the possibilities if more countries had females leading).
Less war perhaps?
Less strife & corruption?
More wins? Who knows?
#Womenrock! Just saying.

*****This was my first FB post as the game started out. And one I still consider valid.

THE LESSON OF "BEST TEAM VERSUS BEST PLAYER"

CNN said the match was branded as being between "Best team and best player" and as I earlier posited in my blog on the Germany v Brazil match, any game, any company or an institution that has multiple great players is more valuable than a lone "star player".
So once again, although Argentina as a team was great, I heard the name of "Miraculous Messi" a bit too many times and kept wondering why I wasn't hearing any German stars being mentioned as often. As we saw, it was a substitute player that scored the lone goal; testimony that any of the great players could deliver the goods.

Reminds me of this quote: "I was taught that the name on the front of your jersey was a lot more important than the name on the back"
- Ryne Sandberg, Former professional baseball player

It's not about a star player. It's about the team. The results. U.O.

The Lesson Of Extra Time.
Mario Gotze, a substitute scored the lone German goal in extra time. This to me, is proof that anything can happen in the extra time of your life. Never give up too soon. You may think that the game of life has been played, or that you have given your best in your first career or first enterprise, and may not have much to show for it.  Please remember that there is "extra time". Now is the time to pull out your reserves, throw your best punches, give it your best shot and go for gold.  It's never over until you take home the gold cup!

And if you have done all you know to do but didn't take home the coveted gold World Cup, I say to all the teams as to all entrepreneurs and professionals:

" It’s okay to lose; just don’t lose the lesson. "
- George Lucas, Film director



MORE GOLDEN NUGGETS FOR DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF PLAYERS
Below are a few more golden nuggets from sports and athletic stars to give us some further perspective. My own quotes and interpretation are also included with the initial U.O.

1. Player Who Missed Their Goals/Targets.
To Argentina, as well as to all business owners and executives who may despite all their best effort have missed their first half year's targets or other individual goals set, it's important that you understand that in life as in business or the game of football, giving it your 100% is the most critical thing and sometimes no matter how hard we try, we simply don't get the desired outcome. In those situations, please remember this:

" Winning does not always mean coming in first…real victory is in arriving at the finish line with no regrets because you know you’ve gone all out.”
- Apolo Anton Ohno Olympic champion speed skater.

A life without regrets is my definition of success. U.O

2. Players Who Need To Take Action.
In life and business, there are always some companies and people who don't even show up on the court, for various reasons, some valid, some not so valid.
For all those who may still be dancing around their goals and afraid of taking action towards their dreams, my free counsel to you is this:

 "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”
- Wayne Gretzky, Former professional hockey player

Vision is great. Dreams are fantastic. But until you take a shot at your goals, you aren't in the game. U.O


3. The Difference Between A Winner And A Loser
I have always been fascinated by the difference between people who seem to achieve success and those who simply don't appear to quite make it. The interesting and most consistent observation I have made along with various experts on performance and successful living, is that typically winners have a mindset of success, a solid belief that makes them give it just that extra go. Winners never stop until they hit the finish line. Those who lose typically give up just an inch short of victory.

 "The difference between a winner and a loser is, many times, a matter of inches. If you think you can do it, most of the time you’ll do it."
- Nancy Lieberman Cline, Former professional basketball player

I am absolutely certain that you can and will achieve whatever you set your mind to do this week ahead. I am convinced that you will go that extra mile and my prayer for you is that you do get the trophy (be it the World Cup one delicately delivered in a Louis Vuitton box by a swanky supermodel as they did at the closing ceremony or the trophy you have in your dreams –it’s  truly up to you).

Inches they say, makes a champion!

To your success,
Udo Okonjo

P.S. I truly want to say a massive thank you to every single person who has so kindly given me feedback on these newsletters. It seems the Tycoon diaries have been quite popular especially the World Cup series. My goodness, I didn't realise how many closet readers I had. I'm truly humbled that you choose to read and even share my thoughts with your friends and families as some of you have indicated.

On the same note, I also want to use this opportunity to assure those who have asked if I'm planning to be the next Oprah of Africa and if I am still with Fine and Country. My answer to that is, No I am simply being Udo Okonjo and only ever want to be me. And a HUGE, ‘Yes’, I am still honoured to still be leading the finest championship team at Fine and Country adding massive value to the best properties with many more on the way. These are exciting times for us at FC and my personal newsletter is just a way of adding value to the most important constituents within any property - i.e. people. This is only a part of what we encourage at FC –have a life beyond work.