Thrill of Victory, Agony of Defeat, and Joy of Learning
Posted by Orrin Woodward on August 24, 2013
This is part four of a four-part series on LIFE Leadership Fun. To start at the first segment, please click here.
The whole series now boiled down to one game for the Band of Brothers (BoB). If they lost, it was over; otherwise, with a win, both teams would settle it once and for all on day seven. Each team experienced the increasing pressure and grueling exhaustion by reaching our competitive limit. Nevertheless, it is an athlete’s dream to experience true competitive greatness when one’s physical limits are reached and the mental discipline must take over. I took the measure of each man on the court just before passing in the ball to start game three. Every single player was a winner who had his game face on, determined to give his all and contribute to his team’s victory. In other words, no one had cracked, and it promised to be a war to the finish. The final game started with baskets trading back and forth and was tied at 4 points a piece at the first water break. The BoB, however, surged out of the break, scoring three unanswered baskets to take a commanding 7–4 lead.
Ending this run was not an option, and I found myself repeating the words “stops and pops” out loud. Holger and Bill knew exactly what I meant, namely, stops on defense and quick pops on offense. The next offensive series for the BoB was crucial because overcoming an 8–4 lead would have been a tall order. Thankfully, we did not give the BoB any good looks at the rim, and even if we did, we vowed to foul if necessary, as we could not allow an easy shot. Still, their next shot danced tauntingly on the rim, for what seemed like an eternity, before finally rolling off into Holger’s awaiting arms.
PC Team
The next set of events I experienced in slow motion, although the game pace was extremely fast on the court. Holger passed the ball to me, and I quickly launched a bomb from downtown that hit the mark, making it 7–5. Because we had played “buckets” the whole series, the scoring team would keep the ball until the defense stopped them. Bill inbounded the ball to me, and we looked to continue our rally. Over the years, Bill and I have played a ton of basketball together, and when we made eye contact and nodded, I knew exactly what he wanted to do without a word being communicated. For it was time to execute a series of flawless pick-and-rolls and end this game, or we would have to confront the BoB again on day seven. I dribbled to the left into a beautiful screen set by Bill that checked Morgan. Birtles, however, quickly rushed in front of me to stop my wide open shot. Noticing the overplay by Birtles, Bill rolled to the hoop and I hit him with a perfect bounce pass that he caught in stride for the layup, making it 7–6.
Two more beautiful screens by Bill left me open for running layups that pushed us into the lead 8–7. Finally, the BoB stopped our surge, and we traded baskets to make it 9–8 with the BoB dribbling the ball intent on tying it up. A shot by Birtles bounced long off the rim into my arms around the free-throw line. I quickly dribble to the top of the key, hoping to catch the BoB napping, to take a quick shot. I turned to face the hoop and made eye contact with Steve Morgan in a dead sprint towards me. I made up my mind to shoot anyway and arced a moon ball that took forever to come down. Somehow the shot just avoided the outstretched hands of Morgan, and he turned around just in time to see the moon ball swish through the net. PC Team was up 10–8 with just one more point to go!
Bill shot the potential game-winning shot that just missed, but Holger’s offensive rebounding gave us two more shots at victory. Incredibly, both layups rolled on the rim but refused to fall. Three game-winning shots, in other words, but no points! The BoB rebounded and took possession. Steve, guarded by me, dribbled to the right to lead me into Kirk’s screen. However, as Kirk attempted to roll, one of his calf muscles popped, and he collapsed in pain on the court. He was not getting back up, and just like that, the series and summer were over due to an injury. Since we were leading by the required two points, the game ended in our victory, by an injury forfeit, winning day six two games to one and the day series four days to two. Thankfully Kirk, who is a former physical therapist, is recovering nicely and preparing for next year.
Only people who are free mid-morning every day can enjoy this type of fun. Further, only people who understand and apply the PDCA process can enjoy the mental chess match of two winning teams engaged in war. Next summer promises to be even better as I am planning to form teams of PC Primers Leader pins. Each three-man team will compete in a Gus-Macker–like tournament at 10 a.m. in the morning while everyone else is working. LIFE Leadership is about Having Fun, Making Money, and Making a Difference, and this definitely fits in the Fun category! Why not get free and join a team to battle it out in a three-on-three basketball tournament? And since some people don’t like basketball, maybe other free LIFE Leaders will initiate a golf/volleyball/baseball/football/etc. tournament.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself in this series. Looking back, I think the key lesson each of the players took away from it was how much fun it can be to incorporate the PDCA process into life. When winners get together to compete, it promises to be a great time. In all the games, no one trash-talked, gave cheap shots, or cheated. Instead, it was just competition at the highest of levels amongst friends and business partners. I cannot wait until next year! Anyone care to join us?
Sincerely,
23 Responses to “Thrill of Victory, Agony of Defeat, and Joy of Learning”
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Chad Waters said
Hi Orrin!
That’s awesome! Can’t wait to play!
God Bless
Lene Jytte Hansen said
GREAT article series!!!! GREAT Lessons – Thank’s 😀
Sean kiess said
I’m all in Orrin , can’t wait to be apart of the competition
Chris miller said
That sounds like fun Orrin. As people get free around the nation and Canada. We could have the champions of each State play each other to find out who takes the national , or should i say world title. 2014 will be a year for a lot of people to get free. Thanks for your leadership.
jammie said
I love basketball! But for a mens tourney Richard says he will join ya next year. Florida was the most intense ball he’s played, but as a true competitor-he loved it!
Kristen Seidl said
Count me in for next summer!!! I will spend a week in Michigan if I have to. Congrats Team PC 🙂 This was an awesome series!
Tina Abernathy said
Can’t wait to lace back up my cheerleading shoes!
Thanks for the PDCA lessons for life.
Aaaaoooooo
Nancy Crumback said
AWESOME INSPIRATION! Terry has a goal to be playing hoops with this group! He has a pretty good “jump hook” for a 50 year old! Orrin, this read like a movie script! You have such a great way of telling a story so we can visualize it as if we are there!! Thanks for drawing the parallel between PDCA in play and LIFE!! (My personal goal is to sing and have a musical jam session with Terri Brady- and maybe Jordan- think we can have an “artsy” summer group, too?)
Orrin Woodward said
Sure we can! 🙂
Kody Ellis said
Don’t forget about hockey for the strong willed Canadians up in the North! Can’t wait to have that opportunity at 10:00 AM!
Kody
Orrin Woodward said
Yes, I am sure there is plenty of ice time at 10 am. thanks, Orrin
Bryan Vashus said
I accept your invitation, Orrin. And I’ll be sure to bring people with me. Thanks again for this fantastic blog series! I’m inspired.
Don Schultz, Team VIP Phalanx said
Orrin,
Thank you for the lessons of life from the sports environment. The sports setting presents numerous opportunities to teach about success in life, whether we are older and need ice after the “combat” or younger participants who end up keeping the pace of the competition high.
I appreciate your communicating the principles of success to us and the example you set as you lead.
Matt Mielke said
Count the Milkman in!!! I remember our 3 on 3 match down in Florida with team Stealth leaders and Mark Militello.
Our grueling 7 game series ended by injury, my injury, as I twisted my ankle. I am ready though as I bought my first set of high tops since high school. Ankle is strong, shot is getting better.
One very important lesson I learned while playing games with you and other leaders in life leadership is the PDCA process mid-game. I used to just play harder as my only PDCA. Playing harder is good, but it’s the small PDCA adjustments that make coaches & athletes from good to great.
I have had to work on my self-confidence that I can make those mid-game, or mid-life, corrections effectively. In fact I wrote a self-affirmation statement stating how I can make good decisions even when things are going wrong.
I think some day I want to write a book titled “The Game Slows Down” and interview the top performers in business, sports, military and learn what they do to make the game slow down even when an outside observer sees the opposite.
Thanks for the great 4 part series. And see you next year. Milkman
Sandra Montenegro said
What a great summer and what a great way to enjoy your freedom. I can’t wait until next summer competition or better yet competitions. A great way to learn the PDCA process.
Thanks for sharing this experience. 🙂
SJ Barakony said
Am right in the mix w/ Sean — although being the rascal, put the check next to me for being part of the TBA golf and TBA v-ball tournaments 😀 Terrific series of Fun F posts, Orrin, thank you for sharing!
CJ Calvert said
Orrin, you can add my name to the list. See you on the court next summer!
Randy Robson said
In the winter time, you can have a curling competition!
Rob Robson said
I’m in for curling, I have swept thousands of floors so I know I can rock the broom!
Elaine Mallios said
Great ending. Congratulations!
Gerry and Cynthia Peterson said
I’m ready for more fun! Thanks for sharing your basketball exploits and more about PDCA!
Cynthia Simien said
Sounds like a great time especially the lessons learned – PDCA!
John Whitaker said
Hey Orrin,
Steve Morgan was just in the U.P. and told us about the basketball battles….I absolutely can’t wait to hit the court with u guys…..thanks u just gave me incredible motivation to push harder…..basketball is my weakness,…..im super competitive…. C u there…