"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Character is what you really are. Reputation is what people say you are."
- Coach John Wooden
A 7-year-old ran for a 69 yard touchdown in Nebraska's spring football game last week in front of 60,174 fired up fans.
This video is incredible!
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
-Maya Angelou
Accept no other definition of your life, accept only your own.
βThe supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.β
β Dwight D. Eisenhower
You do not have to be a fan of soccer to appreciate this article on Spains victory in the World Cup:
Spain's victory lifted my heart because it was done the right way.
In the final against Holland, in the face of the most appalling provocation, Spain stuck to playing soccer the way it was meant to be played and triumphed. It is not easy for highly trained athletes to do this.
In Sunday's final, Gabi Alonso nearly had his sternum crushed by a karate kick by Nigel De Jong that if it had been three inches higher probably would have snapped his neck. Andres Iniesta was subjected to the kind of leg whipping and direct assault on his knees that has long been banned in the NFL.
It would have been understandable if one of the Spanish players tried to break Arjen Robben's leg.
Understandable but wrong.
In any case, Spain kept their cool and courage and stuck to their uncynical game plan focused on playing the ball forward and looking to score.
Holland took the short term, do whatever it takes even if you break the rules approach beloved of shadow bankers and short-sellers everywhere. Spain won.
Here's the metaphor: In a time when rule breakers have all the advantages; when people who are already phenomenally rich game the law in much the same way as the Dutch gamed the referee β what was he going to do? Show a couple of red cards in the final?
When people who try to do things the right way find themselves thrown out of work by short-term thinking managers, small businesses are unable to get finance because banks are oriented towards generating money for their bonuses.
In short when we stand on the precipice of economic catastrophe because people get no reward for living the right way, Spain's victory shines out.
Be courageous, play your game, shrug off the cheap shots, eyes on the prize and you can win.