Youth Sports and Success in Business

What I was reminded of this past weekend…

We officially kicked off our 2013 club soccer season. Our 13 year old boys and their Silver Elite team made it to the championship game and after a 1-1 tie, ended up losing because of a controversial call in the shoot-out. The final score really did not matter.

It was so much fun watching my son (that’s G in the middle of the second row just below our goalie) and his teammates execute crisp passes and figure out, on the fly, what was going to work. The first team we played and easily beat early Saturday morning was small but fast. Saturday afternoon, we ran in to a buzz saw and were completely dominated 4-1 by a team that was bigger, more physical and a bit intimidating. Sunday morning we played a team that we probably took a bit too lightly and ended up with a 3-3 tie. Because of the points, we made it to the Championship game.

Business is a lot like soccer

In soccer, your team must learn how to play together to get the results you are looking for. On the soccer field there is no substitute for good old fashion coaching and practice. Put in the work during practice and with the right strategy and game plan, good things will happen in a game.

In business, excellence comes from proper training and experience. Learning and doing what needs to be done takes time and effort. Knowledge and repetition will improve your performance and help you close deals and get the job done correctly. Putting in the time when no one is watching will help you shine when everyone cares.

The Championship Game

By the way, the team we faced in the big Sunday afternoon game just happened to be the team that beat us 4-1 the day earlier. Our kids were excited to have a second chance at playing this tough San Diego team and were up for the challenge.

Our coach made several changes. Some had to do with our lineup. Other changes had to do with convincing our players that we had more speed and skill than the other team. He told our boys to trust their teammates and execute. If everyone did their job then good things would happen.

The coach was right. We jumped out to an early 1-0 lead and outplayed the other team for most of the game. As in business, the competition rarely gives up and Sunday afternoon on the soccer field, our opponent did all they could to stay in the game. With hard work and play, they managed to eventually score a well-earned goal and tied the game forcing the shoot-out.

In the end, the other team walked away with the official win. A controversial call concerning our goalie gave the other team the victory and after about five minutes of disappointment, the boys from both teams greeted each other smiling and shook hands during the awards ceremony.

Regardless of what the scoreboard said, our kids walked away winners. They changed their approach and bravely took on a team that had spanked them badly the day before. They outplayed this team for most of the game. Our players knew it and so did the other team. What a great life lesson for each and every young player on the field. I think some of our parents walked away also with a new appreciation for the concept of never giving up.

In soccer as in business, always be ready to change your formation and strategy. Surround yourself with teammates who have the necessary skills to compliment your efforts and then go out and execute.

If you try something and it doesn’t work, try again but use a slightly different approach. Keep taking action by changing things up and never giving up until you either (2) prevail, (2) run out of time or (3) simply get a “bad call” that ends the game. Either way, the experience that you walk away with will be invaluable.

I’m proud of how hard the boys fought for 60 minutes last Sunday afternoon. I know that when they take this “never say die” work ethic in to the business world, good things will happen.

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Mitch Jackson has been helping clients for almost 3 decades and is an award winning California trial lawyer. Please feel free to connect with Mitch on social media, his law firm site or via his popular communication tips blog.