42 – Drawn Grand Final (Second Chances)

For only the third time in AFL history, there was a drawn Grand Final. The rules of the game state that in the event of a draw that the game would be replayed the following weekend to decide on a winner. Debate has been raging about whether this rule is outdated and should extra time be played instead? I for one like the concept of a drawn Grand Final being replayed the following week. It is a historical and exciting and in a sports crazy town it will be another big week. I promise you that this drawn Grand Final will be remembered and talked about more than the any in this era.

For the first time in over 20 years I couldn’t watch the game live on TV as I was flying home from my Fiji getaway. I don’t barrack for either Collingwood or St Kilda but I love watching the AFL Grand Final every year and was disappointed I’d be missing it. So when the air hostess announced the final score, I was thrilled that I would be able to watch the drawn Grand Final on tape later and get to see a full game live as well.

It is the first time in my lifetime that there has been a drawn Grand Final and the first in 33 years. Some people are saying that it impacts on many other things such as weddings, house auctions and other sporting events which is an inconvenience. This is true, but however remote, there was always the chance that there was going to be a drawn Grand Final. Ironically even Prime Minister Julia Gillard said at the Grand Final breakfast that a drawn Grand Final was a possibility after her political draw in recent times.

I have news, lot’s of things in life are inconvenient and from time to time will wreck your plans. So what, I think it is great that for every person that might be inconvenienced there are probably another ten for which this is an opportunity. Many businesses will be able to cash in on a big event two weeks in a row. Some supporters who missed out on tickets to the first game will get a chance to go now.

Being such a huge event in Melbourne and Australia it is a logistical nightmare in many ways. I say embrace the chaos as life is all about chaos. You can’t predict the weather months or even days in advance and nothing is perfect. Sure the players have to go through another stressful week of preparation but ask any one of the 44 guys who played in the drawn Grand Final if they would have rather lost the game.

It also goes to show that just sometimes you have a second chance to get something right. History now shows that there is about a 3% probability of a drawn Grand Final. Lance Armstrong had about a 5% chance of surviving cancer. He was presented with a circumstance he didn’t ask for and focused on what to do next to get the best outcome. Just because something is unlikely to happen, doesn’t mean that it won’t. There is opportunity in chaos so I say run with it.

Enjoy the game next week, I know I will!!

Chris Bellesini
Remember, You Too, Can
Choose Your Own Success

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Chris Bellesini, September 26th 2010 | Tags: , , , , ,
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31 – Easy Targets

For those that follow the AFL (Australian Football League) you would no doubt know who Barry Hall is. Over his career he has created a reputation for snapping under pressure and belting his opponent. It gives the fans an opposing player to hate and the media love it as he is a headline waiting to happen. On the weekend, Barry Hall snapped again, but this time his reputation made him an easy target. Whilst doing up his shoelace off the ball he was knocked to the ground. His response was to headlock the offender and wrestle them to the ground whilst other players tried to drag him away.

The penalty for the headlock based on his history could have been a suspension for 4-5 weeks in which he would have had to sit on the sidelines. Luckily the tribunal saw that he was targeted and changed the charge allowing him to continue to play if he accepted a fine instead. For mine, it was a fair outcome and I am happy the original victim of the incident ,Barry Hall had to pay a small penalty for his actions but was not crucified for his retaliation.

In one way or another we are all easy targets and bullied at various times. When bullying is mentioned we tend to have images of physical bullies. Times have changed and now you can be bullied in a variety of ways in your workplace, by friends and companies without them even laying a finger on you.

When I was 24 I considered it bullying when I was told by my boss that I could not have a day off work. Why? I actually had no work to do and was told taking a day off  ‘would look bad to the rest of the staff.’ I was made to sit at my desk all day and do nothing instead of having the day off I desperately needed. I was also told I would be a slave to me job for the next 40 years in my mid year review. I proved my boss wrong and quit my job a few months later to create my own destiny. We are taught not to allow ourselves to be bullied and so in any situation it has to be asked ‘How can I avoid being an easy target?’

In the corporate world there are bullies who use their money and position to make their own rules. They manipulate the system to make it difficult to fight back because the average person does not have the resources to do so. Unfortunately I have too many examples of these types of people. I am confident in the end everything evens out and the bullies actions will catch up with them but in every case you choose how long you are the victim for.

So whether you think Barry Hall is a hero or villain, he was put in a position on the weekend where he was bullied. By the letter of the law he could have suffered for standing up for himself. It is always pleasing to see the little guys win and sense prevailing, I just wish this would happen more and I applaud the tribunal for their common sense approach to this incident, if only our legal system would follow…

Chris Bellesini
Remember, You Too, Can
Choose Your Own Success

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Chris Bellesini, May 25th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , ,
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27 – My Mate Got Booed By 36,000 People…

crowd boo“Booooo.” I watch helplessly as 36,000 people boo my mate Michael time and time again. He has worked hard to get to where he is but that doesn’t matter when there are passionate footy supporters at the MCG. Even when he is right, half the crowd do not always appreciate his decisions. At worst they call him every name under the sun, it is just a game of football but human nature is we can blame others and became irrational because it makes us feel better in that moment. Life is no different, even when you are right people will be upset with you, but don’t worry unless you become an AFL umpire you are unlikely to be publically booed for your decisions.

It was a reminder that you can’t be all things to all people and no matter what you do there will be those who try to cut you down. I follow my passions and in doing so have the privilege of enjoying more freedom and flexibility with my time than most. That is more important to me than making money from a job and I know the work I’m doing now in my business is an asset that is building. People often get upset with me that I don’t work a nine to five job, they see it as an injustice that they have to work in a job they don’t enjoy whilst I get to enjoy what I do AND earn money doing it on my watch.

We all guilty in one way or another of sitting back and not taking action because someone might say something. So what if they do, Michael could have the perfect game and not miss a single correct decision and he’d still have disgruntled supporters talking about him on the train home about the umpires being terrible.

A mentor of mine once said when referring to marketing his business ‘If you are not offending someone then you are not doing a good enough job.’ People are offended when you stand up to be counted.

The other problem with trying to be all things to all people is that you simply can’t please everyone. How often are you stuck in the middle of an argument where two friends have had a fight. One person rings and gives you their side of the story and then later that day the other theirs. If you try and please both by saying you fully support their side of the argument the short term effect is they are both happy.  The problem with trying to please them both is sooner or later this will be brought up in their arguments and suddenly you will be the bad guy.

The message is stand your ground and do what YOU believe in, if others can’t see your reasons for your decisions so what. Like Michael there will be times where you are booed but ultimately if you do a good job the crowd will be happy 99% of the time and cheering your decisions.

Chris Bellesini
Remember, You Too, Can
Choose Your Own Succes

“Booooo.” I watch helplessly as 36,000 people boo my mate Michael time and time again. He has worked hard to get to where he is but that doesn’t matter when there are passionate footy supporters at the MCG. Even when he is right, half the crowd do not always appreciate his decisions. At worst they call him every name under the sun, it is just a game of football but human nature is we can blame others and became irrational because it makes us feel better in that moment. Life is no different, even when you are right people will be upset with you, but don’t worry unless you become an AFL umpire you are unlikely to be publically booed for your decisions.
It was a reminder that you can’t be all things to all people and no matter what you do there will be those who try to cut you down. I follow my passions and in doing so have the privilege of enjoying more freedom and flexibility with my time than most. That is more important to me than making money from a job and I know the work I’m doing now in my business is an asset that is building. People often get upset with me that I don’t work a nine to five job, they see it as an injustice that they have to work in a job they don’t enjoy whilst I get to enjoy what I do AND earn money doing it on my watch.
We all guilty in one way or another of sitting back and not taking action because someone might say something. So what if they do, Michael could have the perfect game and not miss a single correct decision and he’d still have disgruntled supporters talking about him on the train home about the umpires being terrible.
A mentor of mine once said when referring to marketing his business ‘If you are not offending someone then you are not doing a good enough job.’ People are offended when you stand up to be counted.
The other problem with trying to be all things to all people is that you simply can’t please everyone. How often are you stuck in the middle of an argument where two friends have had a fight. One person rings and gives you their side of the story and then later that day the other theirs. If you try and please both by saying you fully support their side of the argument the short term effect is they are both happy.  The problem with trying to please them both is sooner or later this will be brought up in their arguments and suddenly you will be the bad guy.
The message is stand your ground and do what YOU believe in, if others can’t see your reasons for your decisions so what. Like Michael there will be times where you are booed but ultimately if you do a good job the crowd will be happy 99% of the time and cheering your decisions.

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Chris Bellesini, April 29th 2010 | Tags: , , ,
Posted in Latest News