There are lots of things I wish I had known earlier. If I'm truthful, I was probably confronted with them earlier but either wasn't willing or ready to take them on board at the time. Maybe now is your time for this realisation, too.
Great post, Ben. I had not heard the quote but surely resonates and about to share it with my Division 6, Tennis League team. It is interesting how the mindset changes when you start to experience a bit of success. We initially started wanting to get better and to have fun. It is quite easy to get sucked down the rabbit hole of wanting to keep winning. We need to remember the joy, the learning and the improvement that comes with just playing the game, win or lose!
Thanks Dianna and I often get sucked down this rabbit hole too. Think it’s because the emotions from winning are so intoxicating which makes me lose sight of the process.
What a GREAT response and reflection Ben :). I think growth is a better measure than winning and losing. Brumbies fans were pissed off when a bunch of the boys were rested for the Crusaders match. It's interesting how differently we view things. I saw the team list and went that is awesome! That's a coach who backs his squad no matter who they are playing, but someone else saw it as, well we are going to lose anyway so we may as well send "our second best team". Another fan made a statement about would have liked to seen how the Brumbies went if they sent their full strength team and I said that there are 40 players in the squad and they are all capable of doing the job.
Thanks Clare! Totally agree growth is the best measure, but that can be hard at times to see/measure, especially for fans. Winning/losing is far more clear cut, and fans just want to feel the emotions that come from winning
12 teams are in the comp but there is only one winner. But winning doesn't matter as much as we think it does. I don't reflect on the 2004 super rugby final and go we won and it was amazing. To this day, reflecting back on the atmosphere gives me goosebumps. It was the most amazing crowd I've ever been in and the Brumbies were on fire with their rugby.
The 2019 NRL GF, I was crying before the game had even started. Having worked with the team since 2013, through the ups and downs I was so happy for them to be there. They lost, but they played their hearts out and I was so proud. People blamed the ref or the Roosters trainer but at the end of the day, the green machine did the best they could do and didn't make the most of the possession they had. But hearing the viking clap and seeing all the green is what did it for me. It was in Sydney so you'd think the Roosters fans would out number the Raiders fans, but it was the complete opposite by a long way.
The two wins I've been part of for the Brumbies this season has been special. Not because they won, but I got to join in singing the team song with them which is something I have waited 10 years to do.
The emotions from fans and players is what connects us, but people need to understand that we all process emotions in different ways. Brumbies lost last night, but boy it was a great game! We found out how fast Frosty can run, Lonners got a high pressure penalty to secure us a crucial bonus point and they just never gave up until the end. Lots to work on going forward, but this loss will help us grow for a successful finals campaign.
Having a bad day at the office. Move to a different store. Been here for 3 weeks thought we were heading in right direction. Audit today one department let the team down.
Some fans want to see players devastated after a loss but you have to question the long term, psychological ramifications of a win-at-all-costs mind set.
We have more conversations with ourself than anyone else and the tone of those conversations is super important to our mental state.
Statistically, you’ll lose half the games you play. That’s a whole lot of negative emotions over a sports game!
Like the saying goes, misery loves company. When we feel a negative emotion, we find comfort in knowing that others are feeling it too.
In terms of sports teams, we want to know that our investment in them as an organisation is reciprocated. "Why do I care so much about this team and it's results when they don't appear to care at all".
I think in terms of professional sports, people get frustrated when they see a team appearing to not give a shit when they lose. They do care. No one wants to lose. But they are professionals and these days it's their job and it's a process driven business. They know what's coming during the week. I think that's lost on a lot of fans. Come Monday when they're over it and back at work, the players are in a video session or at training trying to fix where their processes let them down.
I think people forget about these things pretty quickly because it's convenient at the time. Like when they are upset about a teams result or performance, they don't want to be reasoned with, they want to be pissed off. Which is fine, but only if you be pissed off, get it out of your system and move on. As long as when you express those feelings it's not harming anyone else.
Just because fan's can't "see" the devastation doesn't mean it isn't there. Perhaps athletes have learned to suppress it over time? We live in a world where we have been conditioned to suppress emotions.
When my friends get frustrated that their team is losing I try and give them the players perspective. Did they consider that nobody cares more about that loss than the team/players/staff? That they aren't losing on purpose? That they don't train hard all week to get flogged by their opposition. It's great that fans are passionate about their teams and want them to do well, but sometimes I think they forget that the athlete is also a person.
Yeah, I agree with you entirely and that was sort of the point I was trying to make. Maybe I didn't make that clear enough.
The thing is, professional sport is a business. We can't pick and choose when it should be a business and when it should be all about loyalty and passion.
Same goes for me at work. If we have a bad month and don't make money, it fucking sucks. But I can't get down in the dumps about it or display that I'm upset to the guys about it, because that'' affect their attitudes too. I have to look at what we did well, what did not so well, make the relevant adjustments and go again next month.
I think sports are the same only swapping out money for results
There are lots of things I wish I had known earlier. If I'm truthful, I was probably confronted with them earlier but either wasn't willing or ready to take them on board at the time. Maybe now is your time for this realisation, too.
Good point. Gotta be open to learning new ways of thinking, which is something I struggle with when I’m tired and stressed.
Great post, Ben. I had not heard the quote but surely resonates and about to share it with my Division 6, Tennis League team. It is interesting how the mindset changes when you start to experience a bit of success. We initially started wanting to get better and to have fun. It is quite easy to get sucked down the rabbit hole of wanting to keep winning. We need to remember the joy, the learning and the improvement that comes with just playing the game, win or lose!
Thanks Dianna and I often get sucked down this rabbit hole too. Think it’s because the emotions from winning are so intoxicating which makes me lose sight of the process.
What a GREAT response and reflection Ben :). I think growth is a better measure than winning and losing. Brumbies fans were pissed off when a bunch of the boys were rested for the Crusaders match. It's interesting how differently we view things. I saw the team list and went that is awesome! That's a coach who backs his squad no matter who they are playing, but someone else saw it as, well we are going to lose anyway so we may as well send "our second best team". Another fan made a statement about would have liked to seen how the Brumbies went if they sent their full strength team and I said that there are 40 players in the squad and they are all capable of doing the job.
Thanks Clare! Totally agree growth is the best measure, but that can be hard at times to see/measure, especially for fans. Winning/losing is far more clear cut, and fans just want to feel the emotions that come from winning
12 teams are in the comp but there is only one winner. But winning doesn't matter as much as we think it does. I don't reflect on the 2004 super rugby final and go we won and it was amazing. To this day, reflecting back on the atmosphere gives me goosebumps. It was the most amazing crowd I've ever been in and the Brumbies were on fire with their rugby.
The 2019 NRL GF, I was crying before the game had even started. Having worked with the team since 2013, through the ups and downs I was so happy for them to be there. They lost, but they played their hearts out and I was so proud. People blamed the ref or the Roosters trainer but at the end of the day, the green machine did the best they could do and didn't make the most of the possession they had. But hearing the viking clap and seeing all the green is what did it for me. It was in Sydney so you'd think the Roosters fans would out number the Raiders fans, but it was the complete opposite by a long way.
The two wins I've been part of for the Brumbies this season has been special. Not because they won, but I got to join in singing the team song with them which is something I have waited 10 years to do.
The emotions from fans and players is what connects us, but people need to understand that we all process emotions in different ways. Brumbies lost last night, but boy it was a great game! We found out how fast Frosty can run, Lonners got a high pressure penalty to secure us a crucial bonus point and they just never gave up until the end. Lots to work on going forward, but this loss will help us grow for a successful finals campaign.
ohh and once the next season starts, nobody cares who won last year haha.
Great share! I’ve watched this press conference a few times now and find it quite profound, and not only in the context of sport.
Going to watch it with my kids 👍.
Great time for this advice.
Having a bad day at the office. Move to a different store. Been here for 3 weeks thought we were heading in right direction. Audit today one department let the team down.
Learn from and grow.
Better Team tomorrow score a few more points
Show we can do better next audit.
🏉GoYouGoodThing🏉
Cheers Scotty. Live to fight another day. Reflect, review, and go again!
This a great observation
Indeed and it’s great the Greek Freak knows sport (like anything) is about the journey/process. And not the destination/result.
The importance of language, eh?
Some fans want to see players devastated after a loss but you have to question the long term, psychological ramifications of a win-at-all-costs mind set.
We have more conversations with ourself than anyone else and the tone of those conversations is super important to our mental state.
Statistically, you’ll lose half the games you play. That’s a whole lot of negative emotions over a sports game!
Why do you think the fans want to see the devastation?
Because they’re devastated at the results too and want the players to care as much as they do
So basically, they want the players to feel the same as them? Why?
Like the saying goes, misery loves company. When we feel a negative emotion, we find comfort in knowing that others are feeling it too.
In terms of sports teams, we want to know that our investment in them as an organisation is reciprocated. "Why do I care so much about this team and it's results when they don't appear to care at all".
I think in terms of professional sports, people get frustrated when they see a team appearing to not give a shit when they lose. They do care. No one wants to lose. But they are professionals and these days it's their job and it's a process driven business. They know what's coming during the week. I think that's lost on a lot of fans. Come Monday when they're over it and back at work, the players are in a video session or at training trying to fix where their processes let them down.
I think people forget about these things pretty quickly because it's convenient at the time. Like when they are upset about a teams result or performance, they don't want to be reasoned with, they want to be pissed off. Which is fine, but only if you be pissed off, get it out of your system and move on. As long as when you express those feelings it's not harming anyone else.
Just because fan's can't "see" the devastation doesn't mean it isn't there. Perhaps athletes have learned to suppress it over time? We live in a world where we have been conditioned to suppress emotions.
When my friends get frustrated that their team is losing I try and give them the players perspective. Did they consider that nobody cares more about that loss than the team/players/staff? That they aren't losing on purpose? That they don't train hard all week to get flogged by their opposition. It's great that fans are passionate about their teams and want them to do well, but sometimes I think they forget that the athlete is also a person.
Yeah, I agree with you entirely and that was sort of the point I was trying to make. Maybe I didn't make that clear enough.
The thing is, professional sport is a business. We can't pick and choose when it should be a business and when it should be all about loyalty and passion.
Same goes for me at work. If we have a bad month and don't make money, it fucking sucks. But I can't get down in the dumps about it or display that I'm upset to the guys about it, because that'' affect their attitudes too. I have to look at what we did well, what did not so well, make the relevant adjustments and go again next month.
I think sports are the same only swapping out money for results