There are few if any new success lessons but many of us may well need reminding of the ones we already know. One way to remember success lessons is to see them applied in different environments such as the world of sport.
Rugby, for example, teaches useful success lessons which apply to rugby and to life in general. I have summarized some important lessons below.
Part 1 France v Argentina - Start Believing And Start Achieving!
The Rugby Union World Cup started in France, the host country, with a shock result on Friday, September 7th. The French, one of the favourites to win the world cup, were beaten, on their home ground, by Argentina. Final score France 12 Argentina 17
The Pumas had high expectations of what they could achieve and ignored the limitations placed on them by others. They shocked the French and the World because they believed they could spoil the party and win.
Belief has been described as the ignition switch that gets you off the launching pad and into action. The Argentine team's recent successful results had led to their increased confidence and belief. They were ready to take off and fly high throughout the 2007 world cup.
They also had immense desire and visualised themselves parading through Buenos Aires in an open top bus holding on to the world cup.
The repetition of such visualisations can lead to belief and once belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen. Start believing and start achieving!
Part 2 All Blacks v Italy - Move Or Dance And Take Action!
We can use the power of movement and inspiring words to motivate us to achieve success in any field of human activity. The Haka or war dance frequently inspires the All Blacks to achieve victory. It also shows that tough men can dance without looking like wimps!
The All Blacks demolished Italy. The final score was All Blacks 76 Italy 14.
Movement or exercise can even make us wealthy! Exercise makes us more energetic and productive and, therefore, more likely to make money.
Of course, movement and inspiration must also be followed by action. So try moving or dancing around to some inspiring music and then take action!
Part 3 Japan v Fiji Italy v Romania England v South Africa - Do Your Best, Have Fun and Bounce Back From Failure!
Fiji beat Japan by 35 to 31, Italy beat Romania 24 to18 and England lost 36-0 to South Africa! What success tips emerged from these games?
Put your very best effort into whatever you are doing. You will almost immediately stand out as many people are half hearted in the way they perform their daily jobs and other tasks.
Have fun like the Fijians and enjoy what you do. You will be more likely to achieve success.
Bounce back from disappointments and failures. Don't sit and think about your past mistakes. Do whatever you can to put things right and then start again!
England had to learn this lesson fast or head home.
Part 4 New Zealand v Portugal and Wales v Australia - Maintain Your Enthusiasm In Spite Of One Failure After Another!
Churchill once said: "Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
The Portuguese soon experienced one failure after another at the hands of the All Blacks but kept playing with enthusiasm. The final score was 108 -13 to the All Blacks but the Portuguese were not disgraced.
People build their belief and success on one small step after another. Every point scored against Australia built Welsh confidence and belief.
This belief led them to play with the fire and fury of a Welsh dragon at times but it was not enough to beat the Wallabies who won by 32 points to 20. The Kangaroo knocked out the Dragon!
Part 5 France v Namibia and England v Samoa - Pronounce Your Limitations Vigorously Enough And They Are Yours!
Both France and England had to bounce back from defeat and both succeeded. Like Portugal, they maintained their enthusiasm and passion but unlike Portugal, they enjoyed the rewards of victory as well. France defeated a brave Namibian team in style 87 -10.
Greenwood commented: "The French team ran riot and entertained and have a bit of belief back. You've got to believe you can win the cup."
Teams who say and believe that they cannot win the cup will prove themselves to be right. Dr Robert Anthony has summed up the power of talking about your own limitations: "Pronounce your limitations vigorously enough and they're yours."
Martin Johnson said about England against Samoa: "We have to have more energy and more enthusiasm than those guys today."
We all need more energy and enthusiasm than our competitors even if we are only competing against ourselves. England came to life against Samoa and won fairly easily thanks to the kicking of the legendary Jonny Wilkinson. The final score was 44-22
Part 6 England beat Tonga - Rely On God and His Angels
Belief in God plays its part big time in the Tongan psyche. They pray as a team nightly. Their team preacher tells them: "Our Lord can do any things, especially impossible things."
The Tongans believe in angels as well: "All the angels in heaven are supporting us." Certainly the French crowd were supporting them!
We all need the support of God and his angels. A crowd of human supporters who are ready to believe the impossible also helps.
Lewis Moody had returned to the English team. He would add an element of berserk fury and madness to the English game!
The Tongans performed their haka or siva tau and moved forward staring right into the faces of the England team. The English team stared back and the England fans sang "Swing Low Sweet Chariot!" Their singing almost drowned out the sounds of the siva tau.
Both teams and their supporters were calling on the support of God and His angels in their own way. England's sweet chariot with its band of angels won the day. Final Score England 36 Tonga 20.
Part 7 Quarter Final England v Australia - Miracles Can Still Happen
The majority of spectators were in for a big shock in the quarter finals. Those who had lost their belief in miracles found out that miracles still do occur and that the impossible really is possible.
England's defeat against South Africa by 36 - 0 in the pool stages had made most of their fans give up all hope of victory against Australia. England appeared to be on their way out of the tournament.
However, the humiliating defeat against South Africa had changed the mental attitude in the England camp. Humiliation and abject failure can be the starting point for success! England shocked every one and defeated Australia by 12 points to 10
Part 8 Quarter Final France v New Zealand - More Than One Miracle Can Happen!
In the first of the quarter finals, on Saturday, October 6th, England had conquered the unconquerable Australians. Could France, later on the same day, stop the unstoppable All Blacks and send them home, like the Australians, to watch the semi-finals on TV?
They could and they did. The final score was 20-18 to France. They confirmed the belief buzzing round the rugby world and beyond that miracles really are possible. I was amazed and delighted that two underdogs had shocked the world with such unexpected victories.
I could now be happy even if the whole competition ended the next day. Miracles are possible! Miracles really are possible!
Part 9 South Africa v Fiji Quarter final - David Loses But Becomes A Giant
The successful are not afraid to take on the giants. Accept the fact that the more uncomfortable and afraid you are the more you will achieve and grow as a person.
Believe in a greater power than you have experienced so far. Be willing to look fear in the face and keep going. Never give up tamely. At one point in the game, Fiji were not far from defeating their giant, South Africa,.
The Fijians acknowledged their successes by thanking God for them. If you are grateful for what you have and for what you hope to have, you will attract even more good things into your life.
When the score was 20-20 the Springbok captain told his team to remember the look in the eyes of the losing New Zealand and Australian teams.
Use whatever you can to motivate yourself to take urgent and massive action. The memory of a huge disappointment experienced by yourself or others can help you to take the steps necessary to succeed. Fiji lost their duel with South Africa but left the field as giants. The final score was South Africa 37 Fiji 20
Part 10 Scotland v Argentina Quarter final - Start Early!
Scotland put up a good fight in the second half of this game but, in the end, Argentina won by 19 points to 13. The Pumas would now play South Africa in the semi-finals.
The Scots were too cautious for too long. Successful people get going as early as possible. Geoff Thompson, one of the greatest and most thoughtful martial artists in the UK, gets up at 5.30 a.m. every day to get the day off to a good start.
He walks early and writes early and even arranges to meet people early so that he can sort out the serious from the timewasters! My granddad had a similar philosophy: "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise!"
Part 11 England v France - The First Semi final - Reason Is Not All It Is Cracked Up To Be!
Rugby had "left the age of reason for dead last Saturday when England beat Australia and France conquered New Zealand. It had entered the world of heart, emotion and belief." Anything could happen.
Will Greenwood was worried about which England team would turn up:
"Will it be the bloody minded, nasty group of men who made us so proud last week? If it is, we're one step closer to the win. How can you doubt these fifteen men? Keep the faith. They can do this!"
Greenwood need not have worried. The warrior band of brothers showed up!
Their do or die spirit was summed up by the tattoo on the arm of Phil Vickery, the England captain: "I will fight you to the death!" Phil realized the size of the challenge the English faced: "We are going to have to give body and soul to get through."
In the end, England beat France, the conquerors of the All Blacks, by 14 points to 9 and marched on to the final. This was miracle number three!
Part 12 Argentina v South Africa Second Semi final - Success Might Involve Travelling Long Distances!
There is no professional rugby in Argentina. Only three amateur players from Argentina were in the squad. Nearly all their professionals play in Europe. Successful people transcend the limitations of their country and local environment even if they have to travel thousands of miles to do so.
Argentina tried but lacked the belief and energy of their previous games. South Africa won by 37 points to 13 and moved on to a final show down with England.
Part 13 Play off for third place France v Argentina - Relax, Quit Talking And Begin Doing
The Argentine team visited Disney World before the play off against France. A relaxed and refreshed Argentina played well and won by 34 points to 10.
Before you start any project try to visit Disney World or to, at least, listen to Walt Disney himself:
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."
Part 14 The Final - England v South Africa - Shock Yourself And Then The World
Laurence Dallaglio, one of the team that won the cup in 2003 for England, wrote in his book about the 2007 world cup:
"In the early days of our preparation, there was a sign on the changing room wall at Twickenham that just said "STW"......Somewhere along the way, the Da Vinci code was cracked and "STW" was revealed as "Shock The World".
"Everyone thought it was a pretty clever message. Then Andy Farrell tapped me on the shoulder one evening and said: "Know what it should say?" "What?" "SOS," he said. "SOS?" "Yeah, Shock Our Selves."
Andy may have been right. Successful teams need to shock themselves, before they can shock the world. You have to shock yourself first if you plan on shocking others. Maybe, Andy also meant that England were in need of outside help! Aren't we all?
Expect to succeed and, if you can't do that, hope to succeed. Hope will keep you trying.
You can only respond to reality and not to what you wish had happened. England's eventual reality did not match their dreams but they could leave France as the heroes who had restored England's pride.
Martin Johnson, England's 2003 World Cup winning captain, summed it up:
"We gave it a go, but we were not quite good enough."
South Africa won by 15 points to 6 and fully deserved their victory.
2011 will soon arrive and with it the next rugby union world cup! I can't wait!
John Watson is an award winning teacher and 5th degree blackbelt martial arts instructor. He has written several ebooks on motivation and success topics. One of these can be found at http://www.motivationtoday.com/36_laws.php
You can also find motivational ebooks by authors like Stuart Goldsmith. Check out http://www.motivationtoday.com/the_midas_method.php
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