The World Cup starts tonight. Each qualifying nation will select a squad of 26 players.
Only 11 will start.
Some will come on as substitutes.
And a few may never kick a ball.
Yet if their country lifts the trophy, every member of that squad is a World Cup winner.
It’s easy to think success belongs only to the people on the pitch. The strikers. The captains. The stars.
Teams don’t win because of 11 people.
They win because of everyone.
The players who train hard every day.
The players who create camaraderie.
The players who keep morale high.
The players who stay match ready, even when they know they won’t be selected.
And think of all the dozens of backroom staff who make it possible.
The same is true beyond football.
One of my favourite examples comes from the NASA moon shot.
It’s easy to think about the Apollo missions as the astronauts. The race. The launch. The famous photographs of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Lightyear and thingy.
But what about the people behind the scenes?
In the fantastic film Hidden Figures, you can’t help but be touched by Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson. Three brilliant women whose calculations, problem solving and determination in the face of elitism, sexism and racism helped make those missions possible.
They weren’t standing on the launch pad waving to the crowds.
They weren’t appearing on television or enjoying a tickertape welcome down Fifth Avenue. Most people had never heard their names. Yet they were a key part of the team.
Without them, the mission would have been weaker. Perhaps even impossible.
I saw this all the time in our Write That Book community.
Some people finish their manuscript quickly. Others take longer.
Some members haven’t published a book yet. Others are already on their third.
Yet the writing community encourages writers. They freely share ideas, ask great questions and celebrate other people’s success.
That creates an environment where authors build confidence and new books are born.
Where are you part of the team?
Maybe it’s your family, your workplace, a club, a charity or your community.
If you didn’t get picked for the starting eleven, would you still show up and give your best?
Some of the most important people in any team aren’t the ones in the spotlight. They’re the ones who show up, do their best and encourage others.
They may not be on the pitch
But they’re helping the team win.
Be Brilliant!
Michael
PS I promise there will be no more emails about the World Cup unless England gets through to the final. So basically, no more emails about the World Cup.
0 Comments