The Favre Factor

I rarely have time to listen to sports talk radio, but I was running some errands yesterday and the radio was set to the radio station from the day before. On Sunday I listened to part of the AFC Championship game on the way to one meeting, or another.

Yesterday, the commentators were discussing their opinion as to whether the Minnesota Vikings made a mistake or in signing Brett Favre to a contract for the 2009 season. Those who thought it was a mistake pointed to the fact that the team had just missed the Superbowl and that there is speculation (again) that Favre will not return next year.

Let’s take a look at this scenario:

Downside:
The Vikings did not make the Superbowl due to several turnovers, a penalty at the end that took them out of field goal range and a pass that should never have been attempted (resulting in a turnover and the end of the Vikings chances to advance).

Upside:
Brett Favre enjoyed one of his better seasons in a storied carrier, with 33 touchdown passes and only 7 interceptions. His leadership provided a boost to a young team that enjoyed a memorable season.

I applaud the Vikings for signing Brett Favre. While they took a chance for the long term, they decided that signing Favre for the 2009 season would give them a good chance to make it to the Superbowl – and they were right. While the outcome was not what Viking fans would have liked, they were one play or so from getting back into the Superbowl for the first time since 1977.

While Sunday’s game is not important in the scheme of things, the decisions that we make to act or not act are much more important.

How often are we just one ingredient away from success, only to talk ourselves out of taking the chance?

If we take the right risks in life, we give ourselves at least a fifty percent chance of success, if not greater. However, if we fail to take the right risks and don’t believe in our abilities, we have a one hundred percent chance of not succeeding.

So my advice to anyone taking inventory of what they’re lacking to take their game to the next level is as follows:

Decide what you need…Go get it…..and give it your all!

It’s important to remember that “Monday Morning Quarterbacks” are always out there and have seldom suited up for battle.