​This past Monday, I took my son, Lukas, to the FIFA Club World Cup match at Levi's Stadium. It was Jordan vs. Algeria, and we honestly didn't know much about either team, but that didn't matter.

The atmosphere was incredible. Fans from both countries filled the stadium with nonstop energy, and you couldn't help but get caught up in it. It was one of those experiences we'll both remember for a long time.

As the game went on, I found myself paying less attention to the score and more to how the teams played.

Neither team had a global superstar like Messi or Ronaldo who could simply take over the game. Every player had a job to do. They defended together, attacked together, and trusted one another. When someone made a mistake, another teammate was there to cover for them.
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It reminded me of this U.S. Men's National Team. This has been one of their best World Cup starts in years. They've benefited from strong leadership, a clear identity, and a system where every player understands what's expected of them. Talent matters, but culture and leadership have made the difference.

​You don’t have to be a basketball fan to appreciate what happened in Madison Square Garden last night.

In Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks, the Spurs were well on their way to tying up the series at two games apiece.

In fact, when I heard on the radio that the Spurs had a 17-point lead going into the fourth quarter, I figured it was a done deal.

Little did I know that the Spurs would grow their lead to 29 points and still be ahead by 20 with only nine minutes remaining in the game.

Then something remarkable happened. The Knicks refused to go away.

Possession by possession, they chipped away at the lead until they eventually won 107-106 on a shot with 1.2 seconds left on the clock. The largest comeback in NBA Finals history.

After the game, Knicks coach Mike Brown said something that caught my attention:

"You gotta have a little luck. You can also go make your own luck, too."
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I often draw parallels between sports and business development.