What I learnt from the World Snooker Championship Final 2024

What I learnt from the World Championship snooker final this weekend.

For me May Bank Holiday weekend in the UK is not defined by BBQ’ing or planting out my annuals but by the World Snooker Championship final :)

It was, again, an epic best-of 35 frames over 2 days. This year with first time finalist Jak Jones and only second time finalist Kyren Wilson.   At the end of the first session Jak was 7-1 down.  It looked like it could all be over quickly.

But over the next 3 sessions Jak Jones kept putting one foot in front of the other (or in his case one shot after the other) and despite nerves, plenty of mistakes coupled with some outstanding shots and pots, he clawed his way up to 14 frames, to Kyren’s 17.

Jak’s journey to the final, as well as the final itself was a roller coaster and you could see he was really digging deep just to keep going - and you could see there was plenty of negative self-talk.  SPOILER ALERT: He lost the match and whilst he was disappointed it was clear he’d exceeded all his expectations in this tournament.  He was a great testament to ‘reach for the stars and maybe you’ll hit the moon’.  And whilst he didn’t achieve his ultimate goal on this occasion he will have learnt tons about himself and his game.

Kyren, who eventually won 18-14 took his moment and lifted the trophy with his young boys around him.   It was a real family affair in celebrating the win.  He paid tribute to the unwavering support of his family on his road to getting there - including his family re-mortgaging their house to help him keep going.  How amazing to have people around you that believe in you and your capabilities that much that they are prepared to go to those lengths to help you succeed.  It was a great reminder that behind that win is years of hard work, dedication and tough times.

So here’s what I’m reminded of as a leader:

Some days it can be really tough just to keep going.  It can be easy to make it feel like the only option is to give up - but - finding a way through can lead to possibilities that you haven’t imagined.  Hold steady and as Dory (from Finding Nemo) says ‘just keep swimming'.

Who is your support network?  What people do you have around you that believe in you, no matter what?  Lean into those people and be grateful for them in your life. 

Don’t give up. Getting somewhere is better than not going anywhere.  Even if you don’t succeed at your goal you will have made progress.  Embrace what you have learnt, rest up and go again.

What good can you find in where you are right now?  It might seem trite BUT if you think about it, you can always find some flicker of positive that comes out of a defeat/failure/bad day. We, as humans, attach meanings to things - but we can choose that meaning by trying different perspectives for example, whilst Jak could be really disappointed by his defeat, imagine how inspired a young wannabe snooker player could be by seeing what he has achieved as he elevates himself from a ranking of 44 to the top 16 in just one tournament. 

Rest up.  Take a pause to get in touch with what you need right now so that you can pick yourself up and go again.  We can be tempted to ‘sit’ in the disappointment/failure and dwell (that has its value too but don't get into wallow mode) and by connecting with someone or something that we love and brings us joy, we can shift this energy into something more positive.  I have things that I do when I find myself in this situation:

• Go out.  Maybe get on a train, plane, bicycle - some kind of transport  - it literally shifts my perspective and I take in new inspiration from my different surroundings.  
• Chill out - mostly what’s happening is not life or death. So I radically simplify my life for the next hour/few hours or a day - just focus on the stuff that is important like family, rest, fun.
• Get really grateful for where I am on the journey, what I’ve achieved so far and who I have around me to support me.

“Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.”- Mary Anne Radmacher

I’d love to hear from you about what gets you through the tough times.