What I Know About Business and Sport

Not much to be honest, but as Zig Ziglar used to say, there is one thing I do know.
“If referee calls foul against Slovakia, he’s wrong!” 🙂

Seriously, I believe I know 3 things that are fundamental for winning the game.
Be it ice hockey, football, basketball, handball and many other sports.

Rule Nr. 1: No goal was ever scored without taking a shot
You can’t score if you don’t shoot. It sounds simple but many times if you watch the game, players tend to forget about it. Having space and time the only thing left for you to do is shoot.
Wayne Gretzky once said “You miss 100% of shots you don’t take”.

Rule Nr. 2: Goals are scored by players, not ball itself
Defence should always keep this one in mind. Don’t focus on ball but the player, as ball will not score by itself. Also players are much bigger and thus much easier to catch and guard, while chasing ball or puck might get tricky.

Rule Nr. 3: Don’t go where ball is, go where it will be
All players should know this. Other variation is “pass and run”. Just be where ball should go. Be in the space where it makes sense to get the ball. This is where goals are born. This is where you will get “that” pass.

And what do I know about business?
Same thing as for sports.

Rule Nr. 1: No goal was ever scored without taking a shot
Not everything you do will be success. But keep on trying for you don’t try you’ll never know. Don’t spend too much time on preparation, shoot. With some of the shots you will score. Even best players don’t score all shots they take. Not single business was started knowing for sure it will succeed. All of them started as “let’s give it a shot” enterprise. And some worked. Some big time.

Rule Nr. 2: Goals are scored by players, not ball itself
People who work for you are the players in your team. They play and they score. Your people are your company. Your people are success or failure of your company. It’s not you, not your product, not your marketing or sales effort. Ultimately, it’s your people. Your team. Players score the goals, so you better make sure you have best team and best players available. You train them properly, you take care of them and you make sure they know what strategy is and are motivated to win the game.

Rule Nr. 3: Don’t go where ball is, go where it will be
Best thing to do is to find your playing field, your niche, your new territory. Place which is not crowded. Place where nobody is now doing business but where trends will go (or not, but doing business there will be great). It is tempting to go where everybody is. Everybody is making money there, it seems so easy, why not join and get your share. Very likely you don’t score if you go where everybody is.

For both business and sport I am convinced the thrill of playing the game is and should be key motivation. Wining the game in fair way and enjoying it all the way.

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