At Medix, we celebrate the major team milestones our organization reaches by calling them, “Super Bowls.” Just like the NFL’s biggest game of the same name, reaching a Super Bowl at Medix is cause for some major celebration. We even have championship rings made to commemorate the occasion!
After all, when you take the NFL’s Super Bowl and strip away the ridiculous commercials, the glitzy halftime show and the mountains of deep fried snack foods, you’re left with a field full of professionals at the top of their craft reaching for the ultimate goal in their industry – a league championship victory. Outside of the touchdowns and sports glory, what’s really being showcased on the field is a commitment to hard work, persistent preparation and the results of dedicated goal setting.
Whether you’re trying to reach a difficult financial goal, want to achieve success in a brand new business or just looking to celebrate the little victories more, there are plenty of goal setting lessons to learn from the biggest Super Bowl headlines:
“Tom Brady, 40 Years Old, Still Playing at an MVP Level”
What football fans are seeing on the field from the 40-year-old Tom Brady is nothing short of incredible. To be competing for what would be his sixth Super Bowl ring and doing it while putting up some of the best statistics in the league would be incredible in its own right, but he’s also doing so at a time in his career when most other athletes would be in decline, physically and mentally exhausted. The fact that he continues to excel has left critics and fans alike scratching their heads asking, “How!?”
By all indications, Tom Brady’s continued success comes down to three simple things: practice, practice and more practice. His eccentric training routines have been well documented. By working his way with his trusted trainer, Tom Brady has made a longstanding commitment to a work-out routine that includes pre-game training, post-game rehabilitation and a special focus on proper nutrition.
The lesson? Even if it may be unconventional, a regular routine that fits you or your organization’s unique style is key to sustaining long-term success.
“No Wentz? No Problem!”
In early December, it seemed like the Philadelphia Eagles’ dream of a Super Bowl season were over after their star quarterback, Carson Wentz, suffered a devastating leg injury that tore his ACL and LCL. With their offensive leader sidelined until next season, what was the team to do? Turns out, back-up quarterback, Nick Foles, was more than ready for the challenge; after a few early hiccups, Foles was able to lead his team to an NFC Championship victory and punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.
Was their game plan exactly the same? Is this how they planned on making it to their goal? Not exactly, but they were still able to rally together as a team to achieve their dreams after a potentially disastrous loss.
The lesson? Your goals and tactics for achieving them may need to change along the path to success – and that’s okay!
“Belichick vs. Pederson: Which Coach Wins Out?”
Is it better to be aggressive and attack your targets head on, or is there value in waiting for the perfect moment to strike? What’s more valuable – a proven track record of success or the bold risk taking that comes with inexperience? These are the questions being posed by the Super Bowl coaching matchup, pitting the Philadelphia Eagles’ Doug Pederson against the New England Patriot’s Bill Belichick.
While Belichick has the most playoff coaching wins in NFL history (28), Pederson enters the Super Bowl with just three post-season games under his belt. Their experience and coaching styles might be polar opposites, but they have both found a way to lead their teams to the same goal. Their distinct styles reverberate throughout their respective organizations, affecting the decision making of the assistant coaches, players and training staff alike. Ultimately, their vision leads the way.
The lesson? No matter what your leadership style may be, embrace it fully and communicate it clearly to your team, top to bottom, in order to set clear expectations when goal setting.
You don’t need to be a star athlete to appreciate the goal setting and hard work that leads to Super Bowl Sunday! In fact, the lessons we learn from football can help us set goals in the office and our everyday lives. Do you have any goal setting lessons to share ahead of the Super Bowl? Share them below!