There are many...

1) Never, ever take your foot off the pedal, when you think you've made it and don't need to work as hard, you will regret it sooner than later

2) Keep going.  Tom Brady threw an INT at the goal lien, and threw another bad one later.  They stuck to the passing game, he was persistent, and it paid off in the end.  Even the great ones deal with tough times, it's their reaction that makes them great.

3) Know your identity, and don't try to be something else.  Seahawks have been a gritty, defensive, running team all year.  They strayed from that identity for one play, and it cost them everything.

4) Dont listen to doubters.  Deflate-gate, spy-gate, no one thought the Patriots could get it done without cheating.  When it came time to play on the biggest stage, they came out & couldn't be stopped.  You've got to know yourself that you're great before others will believe it.

Don't throw a pass when you are one friggin' yard from goal line!  

Don't spend your money until after the deal closes!

Don't figure that only non-football fans will show up at an open house on Super Bowl Sunday. The likelihood is nobody will show up.

I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but Yogi Berra said it succinctly; It ain't over till it's over! 

After all the preparation and hard work, it still sometimes ends up with luck.

Simple....don't get fancy. Stick with the basics!

If I were to apply it to real estate it would be that we should not spend the money that we expect at cloing until after the closing. 

Never quit....Even on Brady's face...he thought it was over.  Thanks to the defense it wasn't

Never give up until the fat lady sings!!! Never too late to go for it.  It was proven time and again in this g;ame on both sides.  You can come back and make a go of it even if you failed once or twice...and biggest lesson, think through before you take the next step.  Measure gain vs loss on each step and see if the risk is worth the rewards

Never spend 4.5M on air time for a commercial have it be about a dead kid.  Oh and always go with your best features (a run) when the situation is critical.  Don't try and be cleaver or fancy.  

I'm sorry but I don't think that Coach Carroll made a mistake/bad call. They didn't execute the play -PLAIN AND SIMPLE. Seattle knew that New England loaded up on the one yard line which made them throw the ball. If Marshawn Lynch would've fumbled the ball,then everybody would've said why didn't pass the ball at the one yard line? But I guess we will never know.

That's my.02 cents.

One bad decision can have far-reaching consequences. 

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This article on Game Theory and Pete Carroll's call says it for me. I think Carroll's call makes sense. Patriots were ready to give their all to hold back Lynch. It was the end of a tough game and a tough season. Even the Superman Lynch could not be sure to get through. So why not bet on surprise? I totally buy it. What does it show me about my business? You can make the right call and you won't always win. That's life.

When your right at the finish line go straight for it! Don't play it safe. Sometimes a call in left field will create luck and position for something great!

I think that it is important to never give up and never assume anything!

I guess the game ended close, but i was talking with a new client.  I learned that the new client will pay the bills.

No matter how close you get to the end zone you never know if your going to score... In other words don't spend your money until you have it in your hand.

If there were lessons there then I missed them.

Never give up!

Never Give Up!

I'd have to say that with any loss, another game is right around the corner.  Having just read a "non stick" blog, I'd say let the loss roll off and start over!

It just dawned on me: they say, "It is not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game."  Try convincing a Seahawk fan of that one.

Obviously, the saying is true; but it is more readily appreciated when you have played many games, and won most of them.  Too often, REALTORS® worry more about the one that got away than finding the next win.  Victory is sweet, so why linger on the taste of defeat?

No matter how successful you have been, you haven't been successful every time you suited up!

Even the Best may require help from a rookie.

Just because it did not work this time does not  mean it will not work.  Or, to say it differently, do not second guess the coach, especially if you are not in the play!  Here's saying Pete Carroll may save that play for another day, because everyone is so certain he made the wrong call (and by inference, he wouldn't dare try that again).

I learned that my day went better than Pete Carroll's.

Also, I think we would have learned that pundits would have questioned the coach's call had they played the run and fumbled.  In business, as in sports, all you can do is "keep driving", "keep Swinging", or "take the open shot."

Just wanted to elaborate on my "ignore the naysayers". I was in my first year as a realtor when I landed my first high end client. I was told by my then broker that I'd never make the sale and that they were just pulling my leg and dragging me around. I worked really hard. My clients were very particular and I don't blame them. If I were paying multi million dollars for a property, it better be in move in condition! They were locally high profiel people and they appreciated me not giving up on them and working really hard. At the beginning of my second year, I closed the deal and made my first million dollar sale, the highest ever in that office. My broker never gave me a pat on the back for any of my successes. Shortly afterwards, I had a three million dollar listing and my then broker, again, cast doubts my way. I took all my clients and listings and went to another brokerage. My ex-broker threatened me over the phone shortly after I left saying he was going to keep my listing if I did not file the correct paperwork. He caught me at the wrong time because I was standing in the parking lot of a hospital where my beloved father-in-law was dying (my husband and in-laws stood around him as he died) and I was in no mood for his nonsense. I let him have it and then told him what a jerk he was. I am happy to no longer be around that jerk.

 Ignore the "naysayers"! Some people always look for a way to tear others down because of their own low self-esteem or jealously.

Praful, Never let your ego overtake the desired outcome and never, ever let your temper rule you if you do not accomplish the set goal. Try, try again!

It's not over, until it is over!

Don't overthink things, keep it simple.

Never take this for granted and when you think you've seen it all, think again!

it's not over until it's over!   This was proven at the end of the game.

Wait till the deal is 'official' with signatures...even then, you never know what will happen till it closes!

No matter how obvious the next move might seem, it may not be that obvious to everyone involved in the deal.  Even may not be obvious to someone with a lot of experience.

No matter how obvious the next step might seem, it may not be obvious to everyone.  Even someone with a lot of experience.

I learned that we waste a lot of our lives watching others!

Even the little unheralded person who works their ___ off can come out ahead when it counts the most!

Never give up!

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This article on Game Theory and Pete Carroll's call says it for me. I think Carroll's call makes sense. Patriots were ready to give their all to hold back Lynch. It was the end of a tough game and a tough season. Even the Superman Lynch could not be sure to get through. So why not bet on surprise? I totally buy it. What does it show me about my business? You can make the right call and you won't always win. That's life.

Never Bet Against New England!

Never bet against New England!

Simultaneous issues. Seahawks lost the game. I lost a listing. I'll work differently on the next game plan.

Lesson #1:  When the game is on the line, go with the tried and true.  As Susan Haughton said: "Don't throw a pass when you are one friggin' yard from goal line!"

When the investigation into Deflate-gate concludes, it likely will put an asterisk next to this Super Bowl victory.  

Therefore, Lesson #2: the entire truth will always come out;  it's just a question of when.

It is not over until the clock run out.

It pays to prepare.

It's never over or ends until it's over and finally ends.

• Never give up!  Give 100% and good things will happen.
• Believe in what you are doing.
• Never assume anything.   
• Give your best at all times, you never know what may change! 
• Just because you may be a superstar agent, there are many others ready to take your job (even if they are work in the fast-food lane). 
• Focus on each and every step towards your goal, one misstep can derail everything. 

Great question and posts, very interesting!!

Left sharks are not good dancers.

Sometimes, even the best of us makes mistakes. Own up to it. Learn from it. Then take what you learned and go out and kick some tail!

No matter what happens, keep an eye on the details and preparation. It could win you the game! 

Praful - It's already been posted again and again here, but "never give up" and "don't count your commission until escrow closes" are the two analogies between the Super Bowl and real estate I can instantly come up with.  Good, thought-provoking post!

When you see an opportunity, grab it! (like Butler did).

You make your own luck!

Some wonderful postings here, almost all emphasizing tenacity, being positive, etc.  One thing I have been thinking about is "If the Seahawks had scored, would the Patriots come back in that last minute and a half?  With Tom Brady as their QB, you could not rule out a comeback, but we will never know.  It was a great game whether your team did win or not.  The game was much better than the halftime show and the commercials this year.

It's all been said however it bothers the heck out of me that Seattle out played them and threw the game away with that stupid pass. They have running backs that are the best in the league why risk the ball in the air when you can push it over.  It's not like it was the forth down.

The lesson for real estate is don't do something stupid when you have deal very near the goal line AND challenge authority if it is wrong. Like if an (enter authority here) makes a bad call challenge it. 

When you are about to score (aka Close the person) and you have a great ground game (lynch), don't throw a pass?!?!! (Super Bowl - No, the Stupid Bowl!)

Question authority. If something feels wrong, question it before doing it. 

Real estate is not football.  That's the most important lesson.  In football, you need to lie, cheat, and overcharge for your product if your team is going to be successful.  If you do not lie and cheat sufficiently, you're not going to the super bowl without a ticket.

One more lesson from the game for life and business in general:  try really hard to not do something really stupid.

Praful/ great poised question! the analogy between that game and Real Estate or life in general for that matter are mentioned several times in the comments! I guess my take (regarding last Seahawks play) for every decision in life there is a consequence.

Here’s my take on what we can learn in business from Sunday's Super Bowl….DON’T DUE STUPID STUFF! 

Now that might seem evident to most everyone, but how often do we see it done in real life situations and in the business world.

Obviously not giving the ball to running back Marshawn Lynch was a huge mistake…..every time  the guy gets the ball he picks up 4-5 yards whether there’s a hole or not. As Forrest Gump proclaimed…”Stupid is as stupid does!”

So who’s to blame?….Is it the head coach Pete Carroll or the offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell (who reports have circulated has been considered as a future replacement for Bronco, when he finally decides to leave) or is it the quarterback the young Russell Wilson?

My first thought is that it is Bevell’s fault, because he most likely calls the plays.

If Carroll made that call then it is on his back……but if he didn’t he should have called time out and over ridden the call.

Now here’s the one step further which is a problem for young, inexperienced people in any kind of organization….they want to be loyal and do what the boss says, but sometimes it can be costly…..and it is a hard lesson for Russell Wilson.

I mean can you imagine Tom Bradley or Peyton Manning going along with that call from the sideline? They would have shook it off and called time out themselves and gone over to discuss it. They would have had the

experience, confidence and courage to question the BOSS and then most likely if they were forced to do that play they would have found a way to throw the ball away.

The worst thing in business, sports and in life is to have success doing stupid stuff, because then you start to think it works that way……. and the heavy odds are always against you and the majority of the time you will come out

 a loser.

Here’s my point…… if something is wrong, doesn’t seem right or is flat out stupid…..have the guts to question it and give your opinion as to why it won’t work. At least you know that you told the powers to be and it was totally

totally their decision to go ahead.

Bottom line…Don’t try and be successful doing stupid stuff…..you’ll lose and everyone will know that you are stupid!

John, living in Seattle makes these lessons very painful. Lots to learn from the loss.

I think Susan Haughton said it best!  I'm still shaking my head over that asinine call.

Don't give up to soon, victory comes with determination.

"Never give up" is applicable to most situations, including Real Estate. I have to remind myself of that constantly when I'm playing competitive tennis. It's such a "head game", often when facing a known tough opponent it's easy to walk on the court thinking you'll lose and guess what - if you think that way, you DO lose. So, believe and never give up, fight for every step.

That some of the biggest mistakes are made by the leaders (coach).

Forget the score and play like you are going to win. As long as there is time on the clock, give it all and then some. Dig deep. You are either hungry, want it bad enough or have the focus to play above and beyond. That is passion. That leads to success.

Never doubt the Patriots?? Oops, that's not a lesson for my business!!

I think their motto says it all #DoYourJob! Everyone has a job to do and we all need to do our jobs.  

We should never give up, always staying positive.  Like the "Little Engine That Could" we are to believe in ourselves that yes, we can.

Do what you know.

Seahawks learned a hard lesson, and I for one as a Packer fan couldnt be happier. 

So many great comments.  I'd have to say stick with the basics all the way through.  Go for the tried and true method of winning, shouldn't have passed when he had the best guy next door!

Never put the ball in the air, when you're 2 yard from the freakin' finish line, with only 2 downs.

dagnabit.

                          "It ain't over till the fat lady sings."

Praful Thakkar great question. I would say two things:

1. Never quit until until its truly over. I tell my clients all the time that I will go down swinging.

2. Things are not always as they appear and that you never know until you keep trying.

I would say much like others, don't give up.  You have a plan, stick to it.

Sometimes you make a really. stupid. decision.

Never give up..Keep trying...you may get that deal closed..

Best lesson, "Time Management!" You can avoid disastrous outcomes by having contengencies in place and avoid making poor decisions when under pressure. He's not called the "Go to Guy!" for no reason.

Never give up....keep trying...you may close that deal.

Earlier today I talked about two positive events on both sides of the ball that happened in the final minutes of the game here... Never Giving Up and Doing Your Homework.

Basically preparation is one of the keys to success and this can apply to a professional ball game or to a career in sales.

Also, that nasty brawl at the end of the game was an important reminder about not losing your cool.

That is is better to read a great book than watch an overhyped event. It is all about choice. However, I support Susan's answer.

Hi Praful,

Good question..I'd say give it your all and then some! If you still don't make it get up.... dust the seat off your pants and give it another try..there is always another one to win..just don't let it beat you down! #2 is not so shabby:).

I think Larry and Sheila have it right, dont count your money until the deal is done.

Tenacity will win the day in the end.