Building a Team That Plays to Win: Finding Purpose in Every Day

I’ve always been a huge sports fanatic. Whether it’s the Michigan Wolverines, Detroit Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, or the Detroit Pistons, I’m all in. When they win, it’s like a personal victory. When they lose, well, let’s just say it affects my mood for days. I’ve got the gear, I talk trash with rival fans, and I spend way too much time thinking about what needs to happen for my teams to finally win that elusive Championship.

And that’s the thing—whether you’re a die-hard fan like me or just someone who catches the occasional game, we all understand the purpose of these teams. It’s simple: win the Championship. Fans obsess over it. We calculate the scenarios, track the progress, and feel the highs and lows as the team moves closer or farther away from the goal.

When I started MINDSCAPE, this idea of purpose stuck with me. It’s one thing to work hard, but it’s another thing to work hard for something that truly matters. I didn’t want to build just another company where people clock in, clock out, and dread Mondays. I wanted to create a place where people felt energized by what they were doing—a place where the work mattered. But it wasn’t an easy thing to figure out.

It took time, but eventually, I realized that for a company to thrive, everyone needs to know what winning looks like. Just like a sports team has its Championship, we needed our own version of that. At MINDSCAPE, we decided that our Championship was delivering industry-leading results for our clients. That became our purpose—the thing that drives us, motivates us, and keeps us pushing forward even when things get tough.

But here’s the real game-changer: it’s not enough for the leadership to know what winning looks like. Everyone on the team needs to see how their work ties into that bigger picture. When the team knows how their individual efforts are contributing to something meaningful, that’s when you see real engagement. It’s no longer just about getting through the day—it’s about moving the ball forward, about being part of something bigger.

Just like in sports, where every play matters, every task at MINDSCAPE is part of the game plan. And when people start to see how their role contributes to the win, everything changes. There’s more pride, more focus, and more excitement. Winning, whether on the field or in business, comes down to having a clear purpose and making sure everyone on the team knows what they’re working toward. That’s when the magic happens.

About the Author

Pete Brand