Life Lessons From March Madness

Since last Thursday many of us have been glued to our televisions, our computers and our brackets engaged in the cultural phenomenon known as March Madness.  Why?  I believe that we watch for very personal reasons – a love of collegiate sports, reliving dreams of our long lost youth, the excitement of competition, a social outlet and a renewed connection to regional loyalty.  This post will discuss some parallels between the underpinnings of March Madness and life transitions.  Hopefully it will add yet another dimension to your viewing experience, and if you have not yet become a fan, will encourage you to pick up the remote as the Sweet 16 is fast approaching!

An overwhelming concern of many of my clients in mid-life (40-50’s) is an absence of passion in their lives.  Their dreams have been realized; established and loving relationships, successful careers and nearly grown children. They are floundering about the next step.   Many cannot identify the last time they felt passion about anything. A lack of passion is also an overwhelming concern of my emerging adult (19-24) clients.  Their struggle differs in that they worry whether they will ever feel passion.  Their journey is about initial discovery, the mid-lifers is about rediscovery. 

 

Let’s look at the players on any team in the NCAA tournament.  Certainly they possess immense technical talent, the benefits of world class coaching, equally talented teammates and a love of basketball.  That being said each and every day teams with significantly lower seeds upset teams considered to be more elite.  Bad luck or poor calls by the refs cannot be the only explanations for the upsets.  One could contend that the lower seeds experience less performance anxiety because they enter the game as underdogs.  Therefore, they are less cautious and so are less likely to make errors based upon nerves.  I would suggest that teams are equally matched in the areas of felt anxiety and the resultant adrenaline rush when engaged in a heated battle.

The agony of defeat is also equally felt regardless of the seed, especially in a one or two point game.  When the higher seed loses, there is a sense of disbelief and embarrassment.  The lower seeds although disappointed, expected that outcome. However, I have observed a visible difference in the thrill of victory demonstrated by the underdog turned victor.  Their victories represent a dream realized rather than an expected stepping-stone to the playoffs.  I would like to suggest that March Madness undisputedly exemplifies the magical power of dreams! Dreams fuel the passion that drives the discipline and tenacity required to make them a reality.  Initially, the lower seeded teams feel victorious just to be asked to the dance whereas the higher seeded teams expect the invitation.  Their expectation is winning it all.  The difference is that the lower seeded teams enter tournament play hungry for a victory.  Temple led into the final seconds of the game, as did Iowa State, Butler and CAL.  Often when their dreams neared reality, high anxiety set in and their games faltered.

In adulthood we often become our own worst enemy.  We become so involved in leaping over the next steppingstone to success that we frequently forget to dream. A life without passion is a life without dreams to fuel the emotions.  We forget how it feels to hunger for the seemingly unattainable.  Based upon our successes, we expect to excel and therefore the anxiety that keeps us alert and productive often wanes.

The emerging adult so fears the embarrassment of the “missed shot” that they convince themselves that “shooting” is overrated.  That precludes them from ever being invited to the dance because they do not enlist the discipline required to prove the technical competence that would ensure an invitation.

Many authors are now focused on effective teamwork as the pivotal lessons learned from March Madness that need to be applied to the corporate arena.  I believe that long before focusing on teamwork, disruptive innovative thought that morphs from dreams and its concomitant passion needs to be harnessed.  A team without a mutual goal is merely a set of individual superstars. 

 

To my clients, present or potential, I challenge you to pick up your remotes and witness the possibility of dreams coming true.  The players’ passions are contagious, their tenacity inspiring and their emotions are laid bare on the court.  Allow yourselves the opportunity to dream and passion will soon follow.  Invest the time and energy to that end by removing the barriers that prevent this process from occurring. 

 

Every year I am excited for March Madness…don’t miss out on a great live opportunity to experience a renewed spirit and a healthy dose of inspiration!