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Beat the Coverage: Step 1 - Know the Field
Posted on Jun 09, 2026
There are six steps in my Beat the Coverage framework, and I'm not sure how I forgot Step 1 when writing the blog series.
I covered Steps 2 through 6.
So let's go back and focus on the first and perhaps most important step:
Know the Field.
Before every NFL game, we studied the opponent. We wanted to know their tendencies, strengths, weaknesses, and how they reacted in different situations.
Why?
Because it's hard to beat something you don't understand.
The same principle applies in business, leadership, and life.
Too often, people rush into action before they fully understand the environment they're operating in. They create goals, build plans, and start executing without taking the time to assess the field.
Knowing the field means understanding the reality of your situation.
- What's working?
- What's not working?
- What challenges are ahead?
- What opportunities exist?
- Who are the key players involved?
- What factors influence success?
In business, knowing the field may mean understanding your industry, your competition, your customers, or the economic conditions affecting your organization.
Being a leader means understanding your team, your culture, and the obstacles that stand in the way of performance.
Personally, it means being honest about your strengths, weaknesses, habits, and circumstances.
One of the reasons preparation is so important is because it reduces surprises.
The more you understand the field, the better equipped you are to make good decisions when pressure arrives.
In football, preparation always started with film study.
We wanted to know what we were walking into before the ball was snapped.
The same is true in life.
- Before you find the holes.
- Before you play to your strengths.
- Before you draw up the game plan.
- Before you put in the reps.
- Before you execute and adjust.
- You must first know the field.
Because the people who consistently succeed aren't always the most talented.
They're often the ones who understand the game better than everyone else.
If you enjoyed this article, follow the blog and connect with me on social media for more insights from the Beat the Coverage framework. And if your organization is looking for a keynote speaker to help your team improve leadership, execution, and performance under pressure, I'd love to bring the Beat the Coverage message to your next event.