In the ever-evolving world of business, sports, or even life in general, one principle remains universal: the ability to play offense, even in the face of adversity, is what separates those who thrive from those who merely survive.

🎯 What Does it Mean to Play Offense?

Imagine for a moment that everyone on your team, in your organization, or in your life, had a playbook—a guide to playing offense no matter how defensively the world around them was operating. What if, no matter how much economic uncertainty, internal crises, or negativity was swirling around, your team maintained a mindset of action, resilience, and strategic thinking? That’s the power of playing offense.

I had the privilege of working as an executive in both the NFL and NBA, leading teams through a multitude of crises—whether those crises were economic downturns, internal controversies, or external pressure from fans and media. It was a constant battle of dealing with defensive reactions and external forces pulling us down. Yet, in the boardrooms and strategy meetings, we knew one thing: we had to play offense.

🔑 Winning the Boardroom, Not Just the Field

Yes, our teams might have been struggling on the field or the court. Yes, the market might have been flooded with negativity, and yes, the adversity might have felt overwhelming. But there was one thing we could control: our mindset.

There’s a saying I live by, especially in moments of crisis: “The losses are not our fault, but let’s make them our responsibility.”

This mindset is all about taking ownership—not just of our victories, but also of our losses. Even when things go wrong, it’s not about blaming others or pointing fingers; it’s about saying, “Okay, this situation is tough, but what can we do to move forward? What steps can we take today to improve tomorrow?”

📅 Turning Adversity into Responsibility

When faced with adversity, it’s easy to fall into the trap of victimhood. But true leadership begins when you stop blaming external factors for your struggles. Change and uncertainty might not be your fault, but how you respond is your responsibility.

To play offense, we must focus on how we can turn our setbacks into setups for comebacks. It starts with changing our perspective: Instead of viewing adversity as a roadblock, we see it as an opportunity to reassess, recalibrate, and execute smarter strategies.

💡 The Key to Winning Monday and Building Momentum

One of the most powerful principles I teach in my keynote speeches is the concept of winning Monday. It’s a simple yet effective strategy to build momentum and take control of your day, week, and ultimately, your year.

By focusing on making Monday the most productive, focused, and high-energy day, you set a tone that propels you forward for the rest of the week. This small victory of winning the first day of the week leads to a compounding effect: 52 successful Mondays means 52 successful weeks. That momentum can carry you through the challenges and victories alike, building a year of success based on a single choice: to play offense from day one.

🌱 The Compounding Effect of Consistency

When you consistently win Mondays, you create a cycle of momentum that builds upon itself. By the time the year is over, you’ll realize that your success didn’t just come from occasional wins, but from the consistent, disciplined commitment to winning each day—starting with Monday.

This compounding effect is what turns small wins into monumental achievements.

So, ask yourself: Are you playing offense in your life, or are you letting the challenges around you dictate your actions? If you want to win, it all starts with taking control of Monday and committing to that winning mindset each and every day.