I have always believed that my kids must play at least one team sport, and if they want to play another sport, then that is their choice.
The reason I pushed them to play a team sport (and, if they wanted, an individual sport too) is because the two are so different. In an individual sport, you only have to worry about yourself. In a team sport, you have to consider many other individuals.
This is where the rubber hits the tar and where many life lessons are learnt. Let me share some of the lessons I learnt in rugby.
Lesson 1: Respect the Team Above All
Firstly, most people think that you are friends with every single player in the squad. If you think about it, there are thirty-odd players in a squad, and it is highly unlikely that you will be great friends with every person. When you play your first test match, you read a Springbok Code of Conduct in front of the whole team. In one of the paragraphs you read, it says the following: “I will put the Springbok team and its interests above my own ambitions.” In layman’s terms, it says that the team is always bigger than the individual. You do not have to be friends with every player, but you have to respect the person for what he can bring to the team. Once there is mutual respect between the players, then the team can function and perform at the highest level. It is no different in my business. I tell my staff that they must always respect each other for the different skills that everybody can bring to the team.
Lesson 2: Never Sacrifice Your Values
The second lesson I took from the rugby field (or rather off the field) is that you must never want something so badly that you are prepared to sacrifice your morals and ethics. I am shy to say that I was the captain of the team when we went to the now-infamous “Kamp Staaldraad.” For those of you that don’t know, it was a military-style camp in the bush where we had to do military drills under very harsh conditions. We were told that anybody who didn’t make it through the camp would not go to the World Cup a month later. I was the leader of that team and allowed certain things to happen under my watch because I so badly wanted to go to the 2003 World Cup. I had missed the 1999 World Cup due to a knee injury, and I knew 2007 was a push too far. I retired in 2005.
Lesson 3: Mistakes Are Part of the Journey
The third and final lesson that I learnt is that in a team environment, your mistakes can have a huge impact on the other players. You win as a team, and you lose as a team, but you will often find that a crucial mistake can turn a game around for the opposition. The ability to still play hard and make a big impact — even when you make a mistake — must never stop you from going flat out. Your will to win must always be greater than your fear of losing.
I have made a lot of mistakes in business and in life, and the big thing is that you have to man up, take it on the chin, and go again. Reset, focus on the positives, and move on!!
GET IN TOUCH
If you would like to get in touch with me about my key note presentation, Debunking Motivation, please send an email to corne@cornekrige.com. Visit my website to review my speaker sheet for more info. I also share my story on my social media pages on Facebook and LinkedIn.