1. Risk Must Be Calculated
For the overtly enthusiastic like me that followed most of the buildup leading up to the main event at Las Vegas, one thing was clear; the preparations in both Floyd and Conor’s camps were surreal. From a series of strenuous exercises in a specialized hydrotherapy pool to thorough paces at the gym, Conor McGregor was giving nothing away. However, for Floyd Mayweather and his Money team, they had their jobs well cut out. Mayweather was coming out of retirement at age 40 to risk his 49-match unbeaten record. Signing off to this duel was putting his place at the Hall of Fame at risk. However, it was a calculated one. The decision to pick up his gloves after about two years of inactivity was made easier by the choice of the opponent. McGregor was never a boxer. He is a martial artist at best. And while the outlier nature of the opponent must have been a risk in itself, Mayweather has been long enough in this business to know that it was a risk that was worth it. Aftercall, it will be a jubilee of unbroken successes. In life and in business, while it is great not be too risk averse, wisdom is imperative. Risks must be weighed, measured and calculated.
2. Pace Yourself
For the first three rounds of the match at least, it appeared as though McGregor was tearing apart the pundit books and shattering the earnings of the Casino lords. The Irish man was boxing Mayweather to a corner, with jabs that left the Money man far from comfortable. His tactics was simply to make him cower under the intense start. However, what McGregor didn’t realize is that this was a 12-round marathon. Boxing is not martial art where you can steal the show after 15 to 20 minutes. It was a marathon. McGregor had burn out in the latter stages where he needed his strength. Such is life; it is a marathon. You need to pace yourself. No one finds gold overnight or stumble upon an ‘Eureka’ moment in a flash. Life is a journey and must be lived one day at a time. McGregor was football’s equivalent of a happy kid with a PlayStation joystick. He was far too excited and the occasion got to him. While Mayweather saved his energy for the moments that matter, McGregor had lost his legs and tenacity by round eight. Life is a marathon, pace yourself and allow yourself time to grow into the race.
3. Cut off The Distractions
In-between you and point B, will be the ‘little foxes’ called distractions. The build up to the boxing event was dominated by all the pomp and pageantry there was in this world. Again, this shouldn’t irk anyone, as this was part of the business in staging this match. However, there is a sense that McGregor might have taken the glitz and fluff too far in his own preparations. The UFC Lightweight Champion stole the show in the days before this event. Some of his preparations were simply for the cameras and a handful of his press conferences leading up to Saturday’s fight had been rife with tension, bypassing entertainment for cringe-worthines. He had used racial slants, invited unwarranted guests into his UFC Performance Institute training center. The reality is that in life there will be side attractions to distract you away from the main event. While indulgences are a key part of life, moderation is key. At some point in the bout, McGregor was taunting and hurling words at Mayweather. What he failed to realize is that as soon as the main event kicked in, focus on the goal was everything. Mayweather has seen too much to be swayed by dirty talk. Call it exuberance, and you won’t be wrong. 29-year-old Conor McGregor didn’t know when to cut out the noises and distractions. This is a key life lesson.
4. Family Support System
One of a key member of the Money team was a certain Mr. Floyd Mayweather Senior, Mayweather’s father. Mayweather Snr played an integral role in the development of his son to boxing stardom - teaching him the art of the sport at a very fine age. A preacher of defence - his influence has helped Mayweather Jnr become the tough opponent he is. Though the duo had had their fair share of family animosity and showdown, Floyd Senior had remained Mayweather’s biggest fan and greatest support. When the night club lights are out, when the razzmatazz of Las Vegas life retreats for some sanity and the ShowTime blitz are over, one of the greatest mainstay of Mayweather will remain his father. For everything your friends mean to you, few will take the place of family. There is a reason why the most expensive footballer on planet earth (Neymar) has his father as agent. It has to also count for something that the greatest sisters in Tennis history were and are still being tutored by their father. For all the successes you will ever attain in life, family is a key support system you will always require. There was a moment in the third round of the bout in Las Vegas when McGregor was seemingly picking out Mayweather, during the interval, it was Floyd Snr that was in the face of Mayweather, psyching him up and playing a cheerleader role. There are moments in your life when the encouraging words of family is greater than the voices of the John Maxwells, Robert Kiyosakis and the likes.
Great lessons!
ReplyDelete