"The natural state of the football fan is bitter disappointment, no matter what the score." - Nick Hornby

{mosimage}I love the above quote pulled from Hornby's book, "Fever Pitch." which dissects the true obsession of the sports fan. I love it because it also speaks to the true nature of competition both in sports and in the selling profession. After watching the Super Bowl I think that statement rings true in both locker rooms as well as it does at your office trying to be an effective sales person.

What does that statement mean? I think it speaks to the true condition of life as a human being. We spend so much time struggling, thinking, strategizing, practicing and worrying. So little time in the pure joy of the moment.

Think about it. Most of the time we spend competing, whether we win or lose, is used up worrying about what the opponent will do next, or our next situation or practicing for the worst thing that could happen. This is true both in the sales profession as well as in football. When you or your team is winning, can you really ever enjoy it as much as you would like? When you finally win, is it more joy? Or would relief really describe the feeling more?

{mosimage}Read the quote carefully. "The "natural" state of the football fan is bitter disappointment." This means that 99% of the time, (the natural state) is spent doubting yourself, looking for weaknesses in your team, practicing or thoughts about other things you could improve on. That is if you care enough. Only one brief moment can be spent in pure joy. That moment you pump your fists and scream at the TV after you win or if you are a sales professional, it's after you land a sale.

That moment of love and joy you feel for your favorite player, the whole team and indeed your whole city as you are now the crowned champions of the moment. In sales, after you land a big one, the momentary joy lapses as you now have to DO the work and prepare to organize the materials and payments for the job. Joy is fleeting.

After you win you then have to watch all the experts pontificate about how great the team is to validate this success. We scan the post-game shows listening for the least bit of disrespect of our winning team and relish those who gush over our heroes. If you are a real fan, you may even get emotional and choked up over a big win like the one the Giants pulled off. Why shouldn't you? You have invested so many hours, months and years hoping, praying and cheering.

As far as the New England Patriots are concerned, if you are a fan of this franchise prematurely labeled the greatest team ever, you definitely know the true meaning of the quote above. It's funny that in football and in sales, we spend most of our lives on the journey to success and so little being able to truly enjoy it.