The Most Overlooked Competitive Advantage
I love watching the Olympics. Every two years we get to witness incredible stories, unlikely victories, and the kind of grit that only shows up on the world’s biggest stage. The Winter Games, in particular, fascinate me. From skiing, figure skating, and hockey to biathlon, skeleton, and curling, the variety of disciplines is remarkable. Having the opportunity to go to the Vancouver Olympics in 2010 is still a highlight I look back on often.
April and I enjoying the Winter Olympics in 2010 and me trying the “sky jump” at the Olympic museum in Calgary
One thing that caught my attention recently is that Norway has won more gold medals than any other country in the past three Winter Olympics. They consistently outperform nations many times their size, despite having a population of just five million people.
In a feature on NBC, I learned that their “secret” to success is surprisingly simple: Fun. In Norway, children are encouraged to play outside and participate in sports without scores, rankings, or pressure until the age of 13. No clocks. No standings. Just movement and enjoyment. The belief is that when kids fall in love with activity first, excellence follows later.
Kicking up my heels and having fun in Bergen Norway
When we visited Norway last year, we saw a glimpse of this in Bergen. At a scenic overlook, there was an outdoor classroom filled with opportunities for kids to explore, climb, and experience nature. It wasn’t structured or rigid. It was inviting and joyful.
I’ve long believed in the power of fun at work. When people enjoy what they do, they are more engaged, more creative, and more resilient. They work hard not because they are forced to, but because they enjoy what they are doing and who they are doing it with.
In the United States, 70% of kids quit organized sports by the age of 13. Often it’s because the pressure outweighs the joy.
The same thing can happen in the workplace.
When everything becomes about metrics, deadlines, and performance reviews, we risk squeezing out the very thing that fuels long-term excellence. Of course results matter. Accountability matters. Standards matter. But if pressure is the only lever we pull, we may win in the short term and lose in the long run.
Great cultures understand something Norway seems to have mastered: enjoyment builds endurance.
When people feel connected, when there is space for play, when work has energy and levity, they stay longer. They push harder and they recover faster. They don’t burn out as quickly because they actually like being there.
Fun is not the opposite of performance. It’s often the foundation of it.
As leaders, the question isn’t whether we are serious about results. It’s whether we are serious about creating an environment where people want to show up every day.
Because when people love the game, they stay in it long enough to become great.
Keep MIBE-ing!
Anthony Lambatos
Founder, MIBE Hospitality Leadership Development
Owner, Footers Catering
P.S. Want to have fun while growing as a leader? Early Bird registration for the MIBE Workshop has begun!
