Running a business has nothing to do with athletic ability, but the connection between a competitive sports mentality and entrepreneurial success is undeniable.
They both take high levels of commitment, ambition, determination, grit, and discipline. And they require collaboration, communication, and adaptability when things don’t go as planned.
I’ve had the rare experience of navigating the world of start-ups, professional sports, and global businesses. Each has qualities that leaders can benefit from emulating—whether they run a giant multinational, a five-person company, a non-profit, or anything in between.
Each experience—every venture, decision, success, and failure—has shaped my leadership mindset that is grounded in values, beliefs, and behaviors that foster innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Building a winning team
There’s a quote I love from the professional basketball executive and former player, Joe Dumars: “On good teams, coaches hold players accountable; on great teams, players hold players accountable.”
Any team—whether in sports or business—needs to collectively focus on what’s most important. What’s the goal? What’s the mission? And how can we work together and hold each other accountable to achieve it?
By developing a strong unit that comes together under a common goal, even when things aren’t easy, leaders and their teams become more cohesive and productive, and are set up to accomplish just about anything.
Keeping your head in the game
Embracing a culture of continuous learning is vital for both individual and organizational growth. Learning, and re-learning, is the cornerstone of sustained success and innovation.
I’ve always considered learning to be a winning formula for success. My learning routine involves reviewing industry trends, policies, consumer data, and competitor strategies. Most importantly, listening to our customers—what’s going well and what needs to be improved—is vital to maintaining the trust of clients and building solutions that help move their companies forward.
This enables banks to process paychecks; airlines to deliver seamless experiences to passengers and crew alike; hospitals to improve patient care; and governments to provide services to citizens.
It’s anyone’s game to win
Change is expected when running a business, where you must be able to adapt, pivot, and move into a new market to succeed.
A case in point is AI, a transformative force that is reshaping many aspects of organizations and a variety of critical tasks.
Thanks to the democratization of AI, the power of this technology is accessible to a much wider audience—so now it’s anyone’s game. And its adoption isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity for staying competitive and relevant.
Rebounding from defeat
Failure is inevitable in all aspects of life. And while the sting of defeat is hard, learning to wipe the slate clean, push the reset button, and focus on the next task at hand is crucial in every field.
And it’s true: The best players or business leaders are able to take the good with the bad and know that they’re only as good as their next deal or game.
When something doesn’t go as planned, you need to turn any obstacle into an opportunity to hit pause, reflect and plan your next move.
Staying in the moment
There’s something exciting about starting a day and not knowing how it will end. There are unexpected detours and side quests that you never saw coming but keep you moving forward.
It all comes down to seizing the moment, walking bravely into the unknown, and winning your customers’ trust by delivering excellence at every turn.