Down 21-3 at Halftime: Two Leadership Lessons from the Bears’ Comeback.

Last night, the Bears were down 21-3 at halftime and came back to win 31-27. As a lifelong Bears fan, I was frustrated at first, but as they mounted their comeback, it became thrilling to watch. I also found myself looking forward to Monday morning—not just because it’s work, but because I knew my co-workers and I would relive every moment of that game together.

Two leadership lessons emerged from this experience.

First, when challenges arise, you keep showing up and doing what you do. Caleb Williams said after the game, “We are built for moments like this.” That statement hit me. I need to remind myself of this truth more often. I’ve faced challenges and responded to them—not always perfectly, but over time I’ve realized something important: *you are built to confront the challenges in front of you*. The Bears proved it on the field. I’ve proven it in my own life. And you have too, whether you realize it yet or not.

Second, and perhaps lighter but no less important: sports create culture and community. Each morning as we stand outside greeting students coming off the bus, we talk football. Since Los Angeles is a transplant city that went years without a team, our staff represents a wild mix—Bills fans, Vikings supporters, 49ers fans, Broncos fans, Raiders fans, and Rams fans. Oddly, not many Chargers fans. But that diversity doesn’t divide us; it connects us. Sports give us an easy entry point into each other’s lives, a shared language that builds relationships naturally.

Here’s the connection: whether you’re down 21-3 or facing challenges in your workplace, you need two things to persevere and thrive. You need to know *you’re built for this moment*—that you have what it takes to keep showing up. And you need *community*—people who will show up alongside you, who celebrate your comebacks and commiserate your defeats. Sports reminded me of both lessons last night. The Bears found their resilience on the field, and I found mine in the reminder that Monday morning, I wouldn’t face my challenges alone.

What communities or rituals help remind you that you’re built for the challenges you’re facing?