6.13 Zinedine Zidane: Next Play

“The only thing that matters is the ball and the next game.” - Zinedine Zidane

When you make a bad play or have a bad game, do you stay stuck there, or are you able to quickly move on to the next play or next game?

Zinedine Zidane, a legendary French soccer player and World Cup winner, was known for his calm focus and ability to move forward. He once said, “The only thing that matters is the ball and the next game.”

You have to be able to move on to the next game or next play as quickly as possible.

When my kids play soccer, one of the things my wife yells more than anything is, “Get your ball back!” If you are playing confidently and aggressive enough, you will lose your ball, and that is okay, as long as you work twice as hard to get it back.

You will have bad days and bad games, and that is okay if you work twice as hard to make up for it next time.

When I have a bad day as a dad or husband, I motivate myself by working twice as hard to have a better day the next day.

Don’t stay stuck in the past, stay focused and present in the future knowing that today is the most important day by learning from the moment—good or bad—then refocusing your mind on what’s in front of you, not behind you.

Take a breath, acknowledge what you didn’t do well, refocus on your role and purpose, stay present, and trust your preparation.

You’ve got this!

Question of the Day: How do you quickly  move on to the next play or game?