What Entrepreneurs Can Learn from the Super Bowl
Last night, the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl. Some people spent more time looking at the commercials than the 43-8 rout of the Denver Broncos. Anytime there is this level of domination in any sport there are certainly lessons and excellence that entrepreneurs and business owners can learn.
Be on the Offensive - In the first couple of minutes, the Seattle Seahawks led by Kam Chancelor and Richard Sherman set the tone early with an early hit that seemed to change the face of the game. Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos team looked "shell-shocked" early in the entire game. Business Lesson: While in business, you may not be able to tackle your competition but a bold and direct move can certainly put your competitors on their toes. It could be introducing a new product or service or it could be doubling down on a marketing initiative. Whatever this might be, your focus on it should knock your competition off their game.
Teams win Championships - Selecting an MVP was really tough in this Super Bowl but the honors went to Malcolm Smith, who returned a second-quarter interception 69 yards for a touchdown. However, the reason that the Seattle Seahawks won wasn't just Smith. It was the entire defense and offense. The offensive line blocked, the defensive line got pressure, Percy Harvin was a blur and Russell Wilson played efficient. Overall, the entire team deserved the MVP honors because they played a fantastic team game. Business Lesson: In business, entrepreneurs succeed or fail as a result of their team. The most successful entrepreneurs and business owners will attribute their success to having a strong team and hiring people smarter than themselves. If you build a strong and talented team, you can win a "Championship" too.
Your Current Situation Doesn't Determine Your Future - One of the big reasons that the Seattle Seahawks are so talented is that they are under the salary cap. In order to be so far under the cap, a team has to include its fair share of "misfits" or "rejects." That's the case for the Seattle Seahawks. As Smith, the Superbowl MVP said "We kind of have a chip on our shoulder, a lot of guys got overlooked, a bunch of misfits, a bunch of guys who it was said wouldn't be anything.'' Business Lesson: In business, entrepreneurs and business owners often fail over and over again before they achieve success and many are rags-to-riches stories. It's what makes business great and exciting. If you are a failure or feel like success is not an expectation, it doesn't mean you can't be successful.
