Bud Grant is the former Minnesota Vikings Hall of Fame football coach. Bud traveled with the Vikings to the NFC championship game at New Orleans in 2010.

The game itself felt like war. From the preparation of the teams to the excitement of the fans you knew something special was in store. The emotion of the game was something to behold and with 19 seconds remaining everyone on the team was certain that a trip to the Super Bowl was ahead. That’s when disaster struck. A crazy penalty and an interception robbed the Vikings of the thrill of victory. Going into overtime you knew that the odds were against them. Final score: New Orleans 31, Minnesota Vikings 28. The celebration would have to wait for another time. The agony of defeat waited for everyone in the Vikings locker room.

I guess you don’t go to 4 Super Bowls, win 11 divisional titles……….etc without having some wisdom. As he quietly waited on the bus, Bud was asked what goes through the minds of the players and the coaches when they encounter such a heartbreaking loss. His answer showed his wisdom. Bud said, “You have to think about it……but don’t think too long. You will lose sleep over it ……. but you have to move on. It’s a forward-looking business. Survival and future success means that you pick yourself up and look forward. What do I have to do to get better? Winning and success means that you move on.”

The same message applies to your work. You encounter victories. You encounter setbacks. The difference between winning and losing in business, in the marketplace lie in:

a) having a plan to recover….to get better

b) addressing the plan quickly….with vigor

Leadership isn’t about what might have been. It’s about managing the moment. It’s about letting go of the ifs and what-ifs. It’s about moving on. Winners seize the moment and through victory or defeat the next challenge lies ahead. It’s a forward-looking business.