Lessons from the World Cup

Hello & Happy Holidays.

Did you catch the World Cup Final?

Many say it was the best match in FIFA history.

So today, we’re going to reflect on the four lessons the World Cup taught me that extend outside sports.

And as a special treat - we'll get into a holiday surprise at the end - for those in Philadelphia, especially 🎄🦅

Let’s Kick It ⚽️

Momentum is Real:

I watched the World Cup Final from a local brunch spot in Cary, North Carolina last week.

Despite a packed restaurant, there were only two people watching the game. When we arrived, I distinctly remember walking in and seeing Argentina leading France 2-0, with just 15 minutes to go.

Before our menus even arrived, one of France’s strikers was fouled in the penalty box– giving 23-year-old French superstar Kilian Mbappe a chance to score.

He calmly placed the PK in the side of the net and then, without celebration, pulled the ball out of the net and ran it back to the halfway line. He wanted to keep the energy alive.

He was building momentum.

Just a minute later, he scored again. With one of the most beautiful goals in soccer history— a sliding volley from the corner of the box. 2-2.

In the blink of an eye, the entire energy & circumstance changed dramatically.

I’ll save the spoilers for the highlight video below, but I’d like to mention the power of Momentum.

Like Isaac Newton once said, “An object in motion tends to remain in motion along a straight line unless acted upon by an outside force.”

Put another way, the small steps add up.

Over Time, Individual Events Create Cumulative Energy.

For me, just noticing when I’m experiencing a cycle of positive or negative momentum is helpful in making the most of it and/or moving through it.

Negative forces like blame, shame or guilt, create negative momentum. But positive forces like laughter, love, movement, learning, and creation cultivate positive momentum.

So, this holiday season, I’m doing my best to choose practices that cultivate positive momentum, while fully honoring tough energies & feelings when they arise.

And I invite you to do the same.

It Doesn't Matter How You Start- It Matters How You Finish

On the third day of this year’s World Cup, one of the tournament’s top contenders, Argentina, shockingly lost to Saudi Arabia (a team that had no expectations of advancing.)

Now, a month later, there are over 4 million people in Buenos Aires, celebrating Argentina’s first World Cup victory since 1986.

Instead of letting their first round loss get to them, they brought home the cup.

As Argentina captain & soccer legend Lionel Messi said in a recent press conference,

“We lost in the first match due to fine details but it helped us to be stronger.”

I have found & continue to find that failure— however difficult in the moment— is one of the most effective teachers.

So as a (personal) reminder:

Learn From Your Mistakes. Refine Your Process. & Continue On The Path.

It’s Not About How You Start, It’s About How You Finish & What You Learn Along The Way

Blame Doesn't Get You Anywhere

Throughout the tournament, the referees were called into question numerous times.

For instance, Croatia star Luka Modric took issue with referee Daniele Orsato, calling him a “disaster” after he officiated the semifinal match between Croatia & Argentina.

Whether it was an inappropriate foul call or a missed whistle altogether, the officiating was definitely suspect at times.

But at the end of the day, the calls were what they were. “It is what it is” as many might say.

Blaming or complaining about the refs does not nor will not get you anywhere.

All the players could do is play their hearts out.

And all we can do is accept the outcome and have gratitude for the experience.

Similarly, outside of sport, blame robs us of our power.

Taking ownership, on the other hand, is where the magic happens.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

In soccer, if the game is still tied after overtime, teams embark on a penalty kick shootout.

The best of 5 rounds wins.

It’s a time that’s suspenseful for players & fans alike, so to cope– teammates line up shoulder-to-shoulder, arms wrapped around one another.

This, to me, signals a powerful sign of comradery. Win or lose, teammates have each others’ backs.

Similarly, after the game, watching Argentina celebrate together & France mourn together shows how much these players love & care for one another. It goes so far beyond sport.

This illustration of teamwork, as well as my time playing soccer this year, inspired one of my intentions for 2023– focusing on Teamwork & Community.

Often, Over Time, Our Biggest Strengths Become The Things That Hold Us Back.

For me, at this moment, this limitation is my independence.

For years, my ability to get things done on my own was effective & rewarding, yet it now feels like the thing that’s keeping me from truly thriving.

What if I became more comfortable asking for help & collaborating unconditionally?

What if we all did?

As Henry Ford once said, "If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself."

What I’m Excited About:

This AI bot called FeatherAI that my friend Josh co-created and launched this week.

In short, it automatically turns audio files into succinct text summaries.

Just imagine the following use cases that Josh outlined in his recent newsletter, The Build, which I’d highly recommend checking out.

To show FeatherAI in action, I’ll be using it to summarize the Content of the Week section below.

All descriptions were generated simply by submitting the link to the platform and letting FeatherAI do it’s thing. The results, shown below, were received to my inbox within 10 minutes. Shoutout to Josh and his friend David for making this happen.

Content of the Week:

The video explores the human rights violations that have occurred in Qatar in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It discusses how construction of 9 new stadiums was not enough and how workers from India and Bangladesh were recruited to work in Qatar. This resulted in forced labor as employees had to pay a fee to leave the country, and were forced to stay in labor camps with poor living conditions. There have been some reforms, such as laws being implemented and the exit permit system being dismantled. However, it is unknown if these reforms are enough to protect the workers. The video concludes by expressing hope that the people of Qatar and FIFA will do the right thing.

In this podcast, Graham Hancock and the host discuss Hancock's research into the possibility of a lost civilization that flourished during the end of the Ice Age. They also discuss the blowback he has received from mainstream culture, psychedelics, and the Gnostic Traditions. They also highlight the importance of open discussion, debate, and free thinking as opposed to tribalism and government control. They also discuss the possibility of humanity functioning without government and the impact of government on degrading humanity's goodness.

This video explores the lesser-known side of Italy, specifically its southern region. It follows a journey to find abandoned villages and ghost towns, many of which were abandoned due to landslides, earthquakes, and tough agricultural conditions. The video also features the story of a mysterious man who refuses to leave one of the villages and visits a village that is being rebuilt by a visionary man.

Steve Aoki is a master trend-spotter who has achieved success in many different industries including music, business, and more. He believes that in order to reach success, it is important to remain fluid and free, allowing yourself to explore different opportunities. He suggests not worrying about other people's expectations of what success looks like and instead pursuing what moves you. He also recommends getting to know people on a human level, having something to offer a community, and sharing what you love with others.

Offensive Lineman Can Sing - Who Knew?:

Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata, and Lane Johnson, 3 of the Philadelphia Eagles offensive offensive line just released a Christmas album & raised $250k for charity along the way.

Yes, you read that right. Turns out that these three can do WAY more than block well.

It’s about time that someone gave Michael Bublé a run for his money around Christmas time. A Christmas surprise indeed. Hope you enjoy.

I appreciate you reading.

I’m curious - what lesson resonated for you the most?

And/or - What’s your favorite song from the Eagles album?

I always love hearing from you.

Wishing you a Happy Holiday and Much Love to You & Yours.

Aidan