| The football world cup of 2006 is drawing to an end | | | | opportunity.Australians have plenty of self-belief and |
| amid tears from some countries and celebrations | | | | will never give up trying to win. As Shane Warne, |
| from others. Some key lessons about achieving life | | | | their great spin bowler, said "Australians have their |
| goals as well as football goals can be learned from | | | | passports stamped with self-belief." |
| this competition.The fans of 32 nations were in | | | | . |
| Germany supporting their national teams. These fans | | | | An English commentator said: "The Australian side |
| ended up either in heaven or hell depending on | | | | are full of spirit and character. You don't get this far |
| whether their team won or lost.But the fans had little | | | | in the world cup without it. They are convinced they |
| influence over where their national teams ended up. | | | | will win."Australia did better in this world cup than |
| Their fate depended on the eleven men of their | | | | they have ever done before but went out to a |
| national team and not on themselves.Fortunately, we | | | | dubious penalty in favour of Italy.However, Australia |
| have much more control over our own lives than we | | | | did have a huge opportunity when an Italian player |
| have over our national teams. This, in my opinion, is | | | | was expelled from the field for committing too many |
| the most important lesson about achieving goals that | | | | dangerous tackles. 11 Australians were playing 10 |
| there is for the fans of any sporting competition.Our | | | | Italians.The Australians did not make the most of |
| lasting happiness does not depend on which team | | | | their opportunity when everything was in their favour |
| wins or loses. It depends on our own efforts in our | | | | and did not step up their efforts until it was too late. |
| own game of life.Of course, there is great joy if your | | | | They rolled a rock near to the top of the hill but then |
| national team wins but there is much greater joy | | | | relaxed and let the rock roll all the way down the hill |
| when you achieve your own goals and dreams unless | | | | again.The same thing happened in other matches. |
| your main goal in life is to be a supporter or fan.You | | | | Sides that went ahead and then sat back on their |
| and I can experience far more joy and delight when | | | | laurels were overtaken and beaten.In attempting to |
| we achieve our own goals than we would if our | | | | achieve any goal, it is important to make full use of |
| national team won the world cup.Lesson one, then, | | | | the good times. If you are healthy and energetic, put |
| is:Use your life as an opportunity to achieve your | | | | in the extra work and pursue your goals with extra |
| own goals and not the goals of others. There is, | | | | determination.If things are going well, use the |
| often, little you can do to help others achieve their | | | | momentum and charisma of success to redouble |
| goals. There is everything you can do to achieve | | | | your efforts and make sure you move even further |
| your own. You will, then, deserve and enjoy your | | | | along the path to achieve your goals.A third key |
| celebrations more.A second key lesson is that belief | | | | lesson from the competition concerns the importance |
| or confidence is central to success. Coaches, players | | | | of hard work. The Australians went as far as they |
| and fans all talk about belief. The word belief or | | | | did largely because of the work ethic of their Dutch |
| confidence is a key word in every conversation | | | | coach - Gus Hiddinck.The Australians had trained |
| about the teams challenging for the world cup.It is an | | | | twice a day every day for a month. The players |
| important word in any conversation about any sport. | | | | claimed never to have been fitter. Their coach prided |
| The American football coach, Joe Paterno, stressed | | | | himself on the fitness of his players.After France |
| the importance of confidence:"Besides pride, loyalty, | | | | beat Portugal in the semi-finals, Patrick Vieira, one of |
| discipline, heart, and mind, confidence is the key to all | | | | their top players was interviewed."Patrick. What is |
| the locks."Sweden were to play Germany in the | | | | the strength in this French team?""Belief. We believe |
| knockout stage of the World Soccer Cup. Larsen, a | | | | in ourselves and we worked very hard. That is why |
| world class Swedish striker, commented:"We respect | | | | we are here."Three key lessons from the world cup |
| the Germans but you have to believe in your own | | | | then are:Believe in yourself, work hard and use the |
| squad. Otherwise, there is no point in turning up."In | | | | momentum and charisma of success to progress |
| the end, Sweden lost 0-2 and did not play well. | | | | even further.I'll leave the last word to another sport - |
| Larsen himself missed a penalty. Such is life! Was | | | | tennis. Wimbledon ends on the same day as the |
| Larsen wrong about believing in his squad? No! | | | | World Football Cup.The Wimbledon finalist, Raphael |
| Without belief they might have lost 0-4.Belief does | | | | Nadal, was asked before the final if he believed he |
| not mean you will win - the other team may also be | | | | could beat Roger Federer, the world's number one.He |
| believing and may play better than you. Belief in | | | | replied with words of pure wisdom:"If I believe I will |
| yourself simply means that you will play better than if | | | | win, it will be difficult to win but, if I don't believe, it |
| you did not believe in yourself. Belief gives you an | | | | will be impossible. |
| opportunity to win. You still have to seize that | | | | |