It’s a controversial opinion, but it’s mine: whichever team wins the Women’s Hockey Gold Medal will win not because of skill, but because of two intangible but critical things: intention and mindset.

It has little to do with skill or talent or training. Neither team is more skilled than the other; they are evenly matched on almost every criteria. The winning team is the one who wants it more, because they have no real competition except for each other. The Canadian and US women’s hockey teams are an oligopoly where the winner is always the team that wanted it more that day.

Now before we get into an argument about sports or patriotism – I’m going to connect this to business, so bear with me.

Hockey is a team sport, so everyone has to be on their game for the team to win. In business, we know that stronger teams accomplish more, regardless of the abilities of any given individual. When you have no competition beyond your opponent, the difference is not skill level, not training, not coaching. Just intention, and the mindset to decide to come out on top. And let’s face it: women’s hockey just isn’t competitive on a global level, yet. We know it comes down to the US and Canada, every time.

Whose intention will be stronger on game day?

What Women’s Hockey Has to Do with Your Business

As with any sport, you have competitors who do the same things you do. Competition is good, because it raises the bar, makes you better at what you do, and your customers ultimately benefit. But if you want to be the absolute best at what you do, no amount of education or practice or experience will make you the best – any of your competitors can get the same thing, eventually. It comes down to your secret sauce, and your ability to set your intention to be the world’s best. Even when the game changes.

If you’re just happy to have the opportunity to do what you do, and that brings you satisfaction and bliss, then you’ve won your own battle already, and I congratulate you. But if you strive to be the best and your mindset isn’t on the same plan, then you’ll have to settle for silver. Or win the silver – depending on your perspective.

If you ask me, I think the US will win this time around.

Either way, you deserve all of the success you dream up for yourself. Go for your gold – however you define it. Your mindset, not your skill set, dictates your end result.

Photo credit: Kris Krug via Flickr