Watching the Super Bowl with my daughter (while enjoying father-daughter nachos) taught me a few surprises about winning and losing.
Winning Like Tom Brady
Tom Brady, one of the announcers of the game and a seven-time Super Bowl champion, shared an eye-opening insight:
His most vivid memories were of the couple Super Bowls he lost, not the seven he won!
That struck me as both fascinating and, frankly, a little pitiful.
Can you imagine being the actual G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) while still dwelling on your failures more than your victories?
I know from personal experience that cultivated ambition and a singular focus are required to reach the pinnacle of any field.
But Brady’s reflection feels like a pact with the devil—“Dear Tom, I will make you the GOAT, but in return, you will forever be obsessed with your failures. Bwahaha…”
That’s a serious reminder to us all: “Success without perspective can feel empty.”
Therefore, Develop a Balanced Scorecard of Goals.
Balance the following:
- Personal, spiritual, and family goals
- Business and professional ambitions.
Hold yourself accountable for both, and cultivate the ability to enjoy your successes in all areas of life.
Winning Like Jalen Hurts
I imagine it was incredibly difficult for Jalen Hurts, quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, to stay composed leading up to the big game.
Every article I read predicted that Kansas City would win. Even those who thought it would be close claimed that Patrick Mahomes would outplay Jalen Hurts.
As the Eagles started winning the the game, the announcers kept emphasizing Kansas City’s ability to come from behind. That type of one-sided feedback will mess with anyone’s head.
It must have been equally hard for Mahomes to stay grounded in the lead up to the game. When the media builds you up as unstoppable, it can be easy to lose focus.
Both quarterbacks offer lessons in winning.
1. Never Assume You Have the Edge – The Patrick Mahomes/Kansas City Lesson:
Just because you have a history of winning doesn’t mean you always have the advantage.
In fact, assume the opposite.
Find a way to train, practice, and compete as if you are the underdog, with something to prove.
As Intel’s former CEO, Andrew Grove, famously said, “Only the paranoid survive”.
In Andrew’s view, winning breeds complacency, and complacency kills innovation.
Ironically, winning can lead to a false sense of security about your customers, competitors, and industry.
2. Stay Hungry and Focused – The Jalen Hurts/Philadelphia Eagles Lesson:
When you’re the underdog, you must believe in yourself fully—and out-work, out-think, and out-practice your competition.
This applies beyond sports.
- Small companies (and underdogs) must think bigger.
- While big companies (kings of the hill) must think small.
Your Challenge: Never Be Complacent, But Always be Thankful.
Winning isn’t a single event—it’s a mental game and an infinite game.
There’s no final victory where you are forever crowned “King of the Hill”.
Life doesn’t work that way.
As you get bigger, remember what it was like to be small and scrappy. Keep decision-making close to your customers and empower your team to innovate, take risks, and experiment.
A healthy dose of “paranoia” and drive to continuously improve will help you stay ahead.
But—and this is critical—always take time to celebrate your efforts, your people, and your incremental wins.
I know this sounds contradictory, but as a leader, you must balance deep passion and ambition with deep appreciation for the journey.
That’s the real key to winning.
Regards, Jeffrey Scott
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