The Sport of Business

Originally Posted by bigburtchino

I have owned a business for 20+ years and this teaches me lessons everyday. I also know if your not learning something everyday, you are not doing much to start with and probably not a very productive person.

The hardest part of running a business (IMOP), is anticipating potential problems. M. Cuban is 100% spot on with that point, problems come at us in all directions. In business this is true at a increased rate and from directions, that at times from sources almost impossible to determine. Competitors, vendors, employees, customers, governments and family members, the list of potential sources of problems is limitless (they are everyone and anyone)! It is a natural norm to desire what someone else has and to be competitive in achieving our needs. There is a right way and a wrong way to do anything, with many variables in between. Most people will desire to achieve, prosper and grow using acceptable and ethical methods. A percentage of people think they can take at any means possible and those types are a real threat to anyone or a business. These types don't give anything and will only take, so that's how to spot them!

I bolded it for emphasis. See ... this is your typical shark. Think that TV show shark tank ?

I'm not much for reading but there was a book called " Strategy of the Dolphin" by Dudley Lynch. In it he sort of analogized the people in business as being either a carp, a shark, or a dolphin. He laid out the traits of each and made a pretty good point. He said that when a shark squares off against a dolphin he almost always loses. The shark is limited in his worldview. The dolphin is fast and agile. He knows the shark's blind spots and uses them to his advantage. The shark never sees it coming till it's much too late.

In my opinion business or even sports competitions are a metaphor for war. If you really want to succeed and make it to the top then it's about tactics and the use of applied force. The Art of War by Sun Tzu has survived for over 26 centuries and is still as relevant today as it was when it was originally written.

Something to consider if that's what you really desire.

Sports and business require many of the same traits, one needs to have a strong desire to be competitive, work harder than most, be tactical and be able to motivate yourself. The one thing most "big ego" types don't have, is the ability to be a team player. That we are a "team" attitude, will enable others to full-fill their goals, as well as yours (a real winner).

One of the biggest egos in sports, was Wilt Chamberlain, a gifted athlete, one of the all time greatest basketball players. Said about the skill of rebounding, "when I go for a rebound, I have nine enemies, when I get the rebound I have four friends". Wilt led the NBA in almost every scoring and rebounding statistic, led in minutes and games played, he won almost every award there was to win. He did not win the one that mattered and that was "Champion". He was not a good team player for the first half of his NBA career, one of his nick names was the "Big Loser". He refused to practice until after 4 pm, refused to talk to team mates and coaches he didn't like. Not until the 66-67 season when a coach finally stood up to him, convincing him he could be a better team player and win a championship too! That Sixers team had a 68-13 record (a then NBA record), won the NBA championship, Wilt the MVP award and made a lot more money. He had finally learned half way through his career, it was a business, a team and other people counted.

Evan if you are the "boss" there are people you will need on your team and you will need to be a "team player".