NFL to Next: The pursuit of excellence
As we begin another week of the 2023 NFL season, the journey has begun toward the ultimate prize—a Super Bowl Championship. Every team starts this journey full of optimism, hope, and a belief that their process, plan, and preparation will produce this desired outcome. On the night of Kickoff, the reality that nothing is guaranteed and any team can be beaten was on full display in Kansas City.
Each NFL club has a philosophy that serves as the foundation for building their roster. After the close of each season, all teams conduct an in-depth review of their approach to the previous year. This includes an assessment of their player and coach personnel and game strategy, and based on the season’s outcome, each club will typically adjust their rosters to include the players they believe can help them acquire the elusive Lombardi trophy. Similarly, players engage in their year-end reflection and may adjust based on their perception of the success and failure of the previous season, as well as their philosophies.
An ideal team includes the integration of players and football personnel that share similar philosophies, and beginning with the introduction of each new draft class, the entire offseason is spent mastering key fundamentals that include practicing, training, treatment, and studying film in preparation for the 17-week regular season. This careful review, planning, and preparation is undertaken, knowing that how one performs over the regular season determines entrance and position in the postseason tournament that can lead to the ultimate prize.
While this timeline and journey toward the Super Bowl in February is unique to the National Football League season, the approach taken can be applied to any arena and applicable on or off the field. As we embark on another NFL season, there are three questions to consider:
What journey are you currently on?
What results or outcomes are you hoping for?
What key decisions must you make to move toward that outcome?
As these questions are considered, it is also important to identify three components: (1) personal foundational principles that can serve as guides for decision-making making, (2) the mental frameworks that can operate as filters to evaluate the pros and cons of the decisions under consideration, and (3) the fundamentals that must be mastered and are the essential keys to achieving desired goals.
For example, a foundational principle of many top performers is a spirit of excellence, and this requirement of pursuing one’s best at the very least eliminates possible future regrets or concerns about “what if.” A guiding operational framework of intellectual curiosity for decision-making encourages an open-minded approach that utilizes collaborative inquiry and ensures that the concerns of others are considered. Finally, a critical fundamental value of life-long learning allows for increased exposure, expanded growth, and greater opportunities.
While considering the journey, desired outcomes, and essential decisions do not guarantee a Super Bowl appearance or win, it creates an intentional approach and preparation that can help identify potential barriers and increase the possibility of success.
As we embark on another NFL season and our individual journeys, may we make commitments that can lead to the desired outcomes. And no matter how the journey ends, we should remind ourselves that our plan creation, committed approach, and disciplined preparation will allow us to trust and enjoy the process.
Best wishes to the players, coaches, and clubs throughout the 2023 NFL season.
