Soccer Enthusiasm in the Lone Star State: Embracing the McKinney Chupacabras

Rediscovering Soccer Passion

You know how my soccer enthusiasm took a detour after we traded the Pacific Northwest for Texas? The MLS scene here just doesn't capture the same electric energy as those Seattle Sounders games. Our lone trip to an FC Dallas game was fun, but it failed to recapture that Seattle Sounders magic. You know, the roar of the crowd, the sea of Rave Green...

However, McKinney, where we've settled, has a brand-new USL-2 League club: the McKinney Chupacabras. The tryouts were open to anyone with a dream, which I found wonderfully democratic. My husband, bless his practical heart, declined my enthusiastic recruitment efforts. Still, we ended up snagging season tickets—three tickets and jerseys for $280. That's practically a steal!

The Chupacabras are playing at a local stadium and have teamed up with a local brewery for their own craft beer. They promise a whole lot of fan engagement. So, the Parkers are officially back in the soccer game, and we're pretty excited about it.

Exploring the Chupacabras Store

Recently, I visited the Chupacabras store in town. The vibe was very "Ted Lasso." I walked in, and "Richmond till we die" played in my head on a loop. They have a ton of Ted Lasso merchandise! My friend, shockingly, had never seen the show. This earned her some good-natured ribbing from the guy behind the counter. Naturally, we rectified that immediately with a binge-watching session. It was my fourth time through, and it's still pure gold.

For those unfamiliar, "Ted Lasso" features an unwaveringly optimistic American football coach hired to coach a struggling Premier League team in the UK. Beyond the humor and feel-good moments, it's a show with surprisingly profound themes of leadership, interpersonal relationships, and positive motivation.

The Impact of Enthusiasm

One of my favorite characters, Dani Rojas, embodies infectious enthusiasm with his mantra: "Football is life!" This got me thinking: What if we brought that level of passion and purpose to risk management?

The Power of Purpose

Ted Lasso demonstrates how passion can drive a team to achieve seemingly impossible feats. He instills a sense of belief and shared purpose, even when facing relentless setbacks and negativity. Remember when he rallies the team after a particularly brutal loss? He consistently focuses on the bigger picture—not just the immediate defeat—reminding them of their collective potential.

Similarly, risk management, at its core, serves a vital yet often overlooked purpose: protecting an organization's mission, enabling strategic growth and innovation, and building unwavering trust with stakeholders. How do we tap into that as our driving force, rather than just viewing ourselves as compliance gatekeepers?

Finding Your "Why" in Risk

We often get bogged down in tactical details, regulations, and assessments. But what's your personal "why"? How do we get to that passion and sense of ownership?

• How do you connect your daily work—those spreadsheets and reports—to the organization's strategic goals and its ultimate success? Think of Ted's unwavering focus on AFC Richmond's long-term vision, beyond just winning each game. How do we, as risk managers, link our sometimes-granular work to the organization's long-term vision?

• How do you view risk management as a proactive force? Instead of being a reactive roadblock, how do we enable "good" risk-taking that drives progress? Ted encourages players to take calculated risks on the field, trying new plays within a framework of teamwork, strategy, and mutual support.

  
  

• How do you contribute to building unwavering stakeholder confidence, both internally and externally? Ted's honesty, transparency, and genuine care build trust with the team owner, players, and even often-hostile fans. How do we communicate risk effectively, clearly, and proactively to establish confidence and credibility with our stakeholders?

  
  

• How do you measure and celebrate your risk management efforts' positive impact? Rather than merely avoiding negative outcomes, how do we highlight our achievements? Ted tracks progress, celebrates small wins, and reinforces each player's positive contributions. How do we demonstrate our work's value, both quantitatively and qualitatively?

  
  

Creating an Engaged Risk Culture

So, how do we translate this lofty purpose into tangible action within our teams and organizations?

• Lead by Example: Leaders at all levels must embody a genuine commitment to risk-aware decision-making and unwavering ethical conduct. Think of Ted's integrity, even under immense pressure. How do we, as risk leaders, model ethical behavior, accountability, and a proactive approach to risk?

  
  

• Foster Ownership and Empowerment: We need to empower employees at every level to identify, assess, and report risks. Providing them with necessary training, resources, and support is vital. Like Ted's "Believe" sign, how do we instill confidence in our team's ability to effectively manage risk?

  
  

• Recognize and Reward Proactive Behavior: Acknowledge and celebrate effective risk management practices, not just when disasters are averted. This reinforces positive behavior and creates a sense of shared purpose. Ted's positive reinforcement is powerful. How do we use recognition and encouragement to motivate our teams?

  
  

• Promote Continuous Learning and Open Communication: Cultivating a learning environment where open communication and constructive feedback are the norms is crucial. Ted's curiosity and willingness to learn, even from painful mistakes, are essential. How do we foster a learning mindset within our risk teams and across the organization?

  
  

If we can cultivate even a fraction of the passion, purpose, and unwavering belief that Ted Lasso inspires, we can significantly enhance our effectiveness, build stronger teams, and create more resilient organizations. This is what I call “smells like potential!”

If you're facing challenges in getting your team excited about risk management or want to build a more purpose-driven approach, I'm here to help!