It was a few years ago when I started seeing the influence that sport had on my mood and relationships that I made a conscious decision to watch sport without allowing the result of something I have no influence over have a negative impact on my emotions. This realization not only moved me into the adult section of the EQ class but also allowed me the freedom to watch and enjoy sport for the pleasure of entertainment and appreciation of the skills on display. Sure it is always good to have your team win but to lose doesn’t mean I now have the right to shout at my wife or punch out a supplier or kick the dog.

Does this make me a lesser fan or a less patriotic supporter, no not at all. I stand fully behind the teams I choose to support win or lose.

It is the same with a business. Do I have the right to slam the door and shout at the staff because we lost a sale? No, never. If we discuss the outcome and find a better way to do things next time, it brings us closer as a team and we will emerge better in the next round. Life, sport and business is full of hard knocks, we need to learn to pick ourselves up and face tomorrow with confidence, no matter what the outcome. Perseverance is always more attractive than winning to both the team and the supporters.