Sometimes in hockey, your strategy is skill. Sometimes it’s positioning. And sometimes it’s becoming one with the ice and hoping for the best.

Recently, the Hippos had a seriously fast call-up on their team, Eugene, who has played at Malaysia national team level and is an incredible skater. Naturally, I found myself matched up against him for most of the game while playing defence on a line with my son, Nehemiah.

Was he faster than me? Yes. More skilled? Also yes. Did I briefly consider letting him skate past me and making it our goalie’s problem? Absolutely.

But then the competitive part of my brain kicked in and said, “Not today.”

So when Eugene got the edge, I did what any highly trained, strategically minded defender would do. I launched myself across the ice like a budget action movie stuntman and poked the puck away.

Elegant? No. Effective? Mostly. Approved by my knees? Still under review.

One of my friends insists this photo proves there was a sniper in the stands taking out my ankles. Honestly, I can’t fully rule it out.

So what does this have to do with work, sales, leadership, or business?

Maybe a little. Maybe a lot.

In sport, just like in the workplace, you’re not always matched up against someone at your level. Sometimes the competitor is faster, more experienced, better resourced, or simply better on paper. But you still have a choice.

You can let them skate by, or you can compete harder, adjust, dig in, and do whatever it takes to stay in the battle.

Not every win looks polished. Not every effort looks graceful. Sometimes resilience looks like diving face-first across the ice while your family watches and a photographer captures the evidence forever.

But that’s the point.

Effort matters. Competing matters. Refusing to give up easy ground matters.

So here’s the question: who are you matched up against right now—in business, sales, leadership, sport, or life—and what are you willing to put on the line to stay in the battle?

I’m grateful someone was in the stands to capture the moment. Less grateful that my ankles are now part of a conspiracy theory.

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