Business Lessons from the United States World Cup Win vs Ghana

Today the United States Men's National Soccer Team played nemesis Ghana in its World Cup tournament opener. For the United States, this debut marked the beginning of the one month tournament where every four years the usually disinterested American public awakens to join the rest of the world in a patriotic obsession for the pursuit of the elusive World Cup trophy.

The United States scored a late goal in the 86th minute to pull off a hard fought 2-1 victory and gain a much needed 3 points, which will be critical as it competes in the "Group of Death". As the final whistle blew and my heart rate returned to normal, I analyzed the game and came to the realization that this frustrating win was full of business lessons that I needed to take back to my day job tomorrow.

Lesson 1: Adapt and quickly move forward Perhaps the most accomplished player the United States has produced is Landon Donovan, who at age 32 was controversially left off the squad by coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Donovan's experience no doubt would have been valuable but at the end of the day, he wasn't chosen for the squad and the team moved on to a great win in the World Cup without him. Businesses, like soccer teams, need to adapt to the ever changing world. There is no such thing as someone who is irreplaceable. We've all experienced a respected leader leave a company or new leadership come into a team and clash with historical norms. Next time this happens, think about the United States Soccer team and simply adapt and quickly move forward. The faster you do this, the more successful you'll be because in the end, a team is not defined by any one person.

Lesson 2: You need a strong bench

In the 23rd minute, key veteran Jozy Altidore went down with an injury. Altidore's ability to hold the ball in tight spaces as well as his finishing instincts, was well regarded as a central aspect to the overall strategy of the team. His injury was hurtful but not detrimental. He was replaced by 23 year old Aron Johannsson, who didn't emerge as a star but remained solid and held his own especially given his youth. Later in the game, virtually unknown John Brooks, came off the bench and scored the game winning goal. The reality is, a team can't win in the long run without a deep bench. In business, people leave unexpectedly all the time and things change constantly but the key is you must always have a plan b. You may have to make short term adjustments or grind it out for a while, but if you don't have a quality bench of people eager to take on new challenges, you will surely lose the game.

Lesson 3: Be the connector This was not exactly a stellar performance by the USA team and they have certainly played better games but clearly the standout player was midfielder Michael Bradley. He is a workhorse in the defense but also has the finesse to create plays in the offense. What makes him so important to the USA team's success is his ability to connect the defense with the offense. He is the outlet that everything flows through and as a result he creates balance in the play. Without him, the team can't transition. In business, all too often, there is a lack of balance. Some businesses are obsessed with operational excellence and are execution experts and others are strategic dreamers with grand illusions. The key to success is to balance the two. In your business, consider positioning yourself as Michael Bradley would. Contribute where needed and have the ability to connect the operational details and the overall strategy. Relate to both and contribute to both, and then when the situation calls for it, be the transition person.

Lesson 4: Play offense After the USA's Clint Dempsey scored in the opening minute of the game, the team struggled to maintain possession. Ghana continued to press and aggressively go for goal while the USA played conservatively and defensive in order to maintain its lead. In the 82nd minute, however, Ghana's efforts paid off and they scored a goal to tie the game. The USA was timid and reactive and did not dictate the terms of the game and nearly lost as a result. In business, you have to be offensive. You have to go for it. Sure there will be times you will be reactive, but only do so, if it's because you are driving an overall strategy to win. You can't win in business if you only play defense. Have a strategy and work toward it on your own terms. Always play to win because in business you don't get points for a tie.

I love soccer. It truly is "the beautiful game" and has taught me so much. The World Cup is a spectacle like none other. It is full of hope and competition and I live for it every four years. The United Sates hopefully will use this World Cup as the doorway to a new era in US soccer. I have high hopes for this World Cup but this also reminds me of perhaps the clearest lesson of the day; No matter what, you can always use a little bit of luck! Go USA!