Leadership After the Whistle

I watched the World Cup Final yesterday with my compadre, and it was one hell of a game.

Spain earned the win.

Spain stayed patient. They controlled possession over 60% of the time and kept creating opportunities until they finally broke through.

One goal was enough.

But what stayed with me was what happened after the final whistle.

Messi stood there with tears in his eyes, perhaps feeling the weight of an extraordinary journey reaching its final match. Another Argentine player was arguing with a Spanish player, resisting the reality of the moment with noise from things said between teams during the week. Argentina’s coach stood quietly with his hand over his mouth, looking like a leader replaying every decision made up to and during the game.

And then there was Spain. Pure joy.

Everyone was living the same moment. Yet, each had a completely different relationship with it.

That happens in our lives, too.

A promotion goes to someone else. A client chooses another firm. Or, not to work with us, anymore. A plan doesn’t work.

Reality may not always be ours to choose, despite our best or not so best effort. But the relationship we develop with that reality still is a choice, our choice, our exercise of sovereignty.

Who we are isn’t revealed only while the game is being played.

It is revealed most clearly after the final whistle.

My Auténtico Self™