Rugby is the most unpredictable of games, with every bounce of the ball whipping up a whirlwind of chaos. But in the midst of chaos lies opportunity, as Japan’s giant-slayers keep on proving. What can they teach us adapting to the world of change around us?
You’ve drawn up the vision board with the Aston Martin, the Maldives and that pic of you flashing your cheesy grin from behind a desk topped with red leather. You’ve got the degrees in the bag, and you’ve plotted out your career in multi-coloured post-it notes. You even have your life coach on speed-dial.
But as that great pugilistic philosopher Mike Tyson once said: “Everybody got a plan until you get punched in the mouth.”
You may not have to take one of Iron Mike’s fearsome uppercuts, but, like the Japanese at the Rugby World Cup — they’re not called the Brave Blossoms for nothing, having already triumphed over Russia and Ireland — life has this irritating knack of turning the established order on its head, and showing you who’s really the boss.
A close friend who works in finance had to deal with some home truths recently when she was overlooked for promotion and had to watch half her team progress to a higher level.
It was a shock to the system for her. She had a long-term career plan in check, down to the date of her retirement. Accustomed to success, she felt the failure right in the gut. It may take a while for her to emerge from the hangover.
It’s great to think you’ll be fortunate enough to have a clean, linear journey as you progress through the ranks. But the working world today requires agility. You’ve got to make like Cheslin Kolbe, the Bok fullback star: quick lateral movements, a goose step or two, going back to move forward now and again.
The Japanese word for chaos is “konton”. And they certainly brought the konton in their surprise victory over the Irish. One of the smaller teams in the competition, the unfancied hosts stunned the team ranked no. 4 in the world with the sheer ferocity and speed of their attacks.
At every breakdown, they put the opposition on the back foot, recycling with ruthless efficiency. Their sheer relentlessness eventually saw them subdue another tier one nation, four years after doing a number on the Boks in Brighton.
Often, in a scrappy game, it’s the team who are best able to bring their skills to bear on the opposition and be decisive who triumph. In the midst of chaos lies opportunity.
Look at it as an opportunity for character-building. Try something new and out of character. Of course, it takes courage. It’s just a pity that for many of us, the childlike joy in spontaneity and chaos have been rooted out over years of rote learning and the 9-to-5. But with a little elbow grease, I’m convinced it can be rediscovered.
Becoming comfortable with chaos is about developing an iron-clad, action-orientated mindset. It is about acknowledging your humanity, and honing in on your strengths. Most of all, it’s about letting go of the curse of overthinking and trying to rationalise every experience.
In a world of chaos and rapid change, it can pay rich dividends to become an agent of disruption. Just like Rassie Erasmus has done since taking over the reins of the Springboks.
Speaking of which, here’s hoping that Japan’s spurt of chaotic giant-slaying ends before a possible quarterfinal against the Boks, and that the men in green and gold do their own chaos-inducing pantomime by beating the mighty All Blacks in another glorious final.
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