Learning to Win | Career Angles

There is a paradox in the biblical story of the Jewish Exodus from Egypt. When you look at the distance between Egypt and Israel, how is it possible for it to take 40 years to get from one country to another?

In the past, I joke that Moses is the first male driver who refused to ask directions. But this way the story is told, G-d did not want anyone who had a memory of slavery in Egypt to enter the Promised Land. It was going to be hard there and no one would be admitted who would say something like, “We had it so much better in slavery!” Thus, they wander the desert for 40 years until the last survivor of slavery among the people died. Moses himself is not permitted into it.

Watch any professional sports team that is trying to rise from being bad to being a champion. They all go through a phase where they lose the close game. The coaches, the general manager, everyone associated with the team understands that these players need to learn how to win.

One of the lessons I’ve taken from watching professional sports is that winners find the way to win. Losers find the way to lose.

One of the ways that winners find the way to win is that they know deep in their core that their opponent will find the way to lose.

Now, once in a while, a losing team will be a great team. The great team falls…