From Scrum to Boardroom: Keeping the Week That Builds the Win
Missed it on Saturday? My new Substack essay From Nairobi with One Eye Closed starts with South Africa’s 43-10 demolition of the All Blacks and speaks to every high-stakes organisation. New Zealand’s heaviest home defeat shows what happens when a great institution loses the week that keeps performance certain. Habits erode quietly. Stress tests fade. Drills that harden patience give way to flair. Demanding peers and exacting boards ease off. Confidence drifts from default to doubt. In rugby it was South African clubs leaving Super Rugby. In business it might be a key client whose quarterly reviews once kept product quality sharp, an investment committee that stress-tested every model, or a risk meeting that used to probe a bank’s exposures until every blind spot surfaced. Structure and rhythm outlast slogans and star names. A calm, prepared finish is built on the unglamorous Tuesdays that decide September outcomes.
What follows is a meditation on stewardship, the long work of keeping standards alive when no spotlight is on. Identify the bias and the breaking point. Turn the hardest nights into a visible curriculum that shapes posture, timing and choice, the way a bank leadership team might rehearse a sudden liquidity squeeze until trade sequencing, counterparty calls and hedging moves are second nature. Rebuild the operating week so pressure and precision are trained, not assumed. Work with partners who keep the bar high rather than merely reflect it. Fix a real date when the next phase of preparation begins. The All Blacks do not need charity from their oldest rival. They need a school that makes the last ten minutes feel assured again. The same holds for any enterprise determined to close its defining moments with quiet certainty rather than sudden collapse.
Disclaimer
This article does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. The author shares views for perspective and discussion only. Do not rely on them as a substitute for professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances. Always consult a qualified legal, financial, investment, or other professional adviser before making decisions based on this content.
Canary Compass and the author accept no liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information in this article.
About the author
Dean N. Onyambu is the Founder and Chief Editor of Canary Compass. His insights draw on experience across trading, fund leadership, governance, and economic policy.
The Canary Compass Channel is available on @CanaryCompassWhatsApp for economic and financial market updates on the go.
Canary Compass is also available on Facebook: @CanaryCompassFacebook.
For more insights from Dean, you can follow him on LinkedIn @DeanNOnyambu, X @InfinitelyDean, or Facebook @DeanNathanielOnyambu.