LiveSmart 360′s Business Lessons From Football (Even if You Hate Football)

Whether one is hopelessly enamored by everything football or completely ambivalent toward anything football, there are some valuable lessons to be learned in business (and life) from simple football observations.

1. Everyone in the game needs to understand the rules and goals of the game. Without a clear vision of what needs to happen, there will be chaos, confusion, misunderstanding, and certain disappointment.
2. Positions on the field are earned by serious commitment of time, effort, learning, practicing, and honing of skills. No matter how much joy, excitement, adrenaline, enthusiasm, or even fanaticism one might exhibit about the game, there is no substitute for good old-fashioned hard work, learning, and discipline.
3. Only those properly suited up and in position on the field during official game time are actually in the game. Everyone else, regardless of the level of passion or noise, is just a spectator. There are no exceptions.
4. Everyone entering onto the field of play had better do so with the mind set of success. You can be sure that the opposition is geared that way. Any doubt or negativity on your part will be exploited to your disadvantage by those committed to your failure.
5. Everyone entering onto the field of play places him/her self at risk – risk of failure, risk of criticism (usually from those not even in the game), misunderstanding (even from fellow team members), risk of injury, the list could be endless. The idea is not to be unaware of the dangers but not to be adversely affected by them. Life happens. Next play.
6. Only those on the field who have put in the time to learn, practice, and run the plays will be able to properly contribute to the outcome of the game.
7. Only those in the above group who are actively engaged in the play, following play strategies, making the necessary personal efforts and sacrifices, and positively adapting and responding to what is happening on the field as the game unfolds will have a productive role in the game.
8. Anyone in the game who expects the other team members to run the plays for them is either clueless, selfish, or just in the wrong game. You encourage them. They may, or may not encourage you. But getting to wear the ring and hold the trophy at the end is an earned privilege, not a right. If you truly want to feel good about yourself, transform, grow, and succeed. It’s quite an exhilarating “high”.
9. The ones who will be most successful in the game will be those who positioned themselves just a little bit better, reached a little bit higher, played a little bit harder, ran a little bit longer and faster, and put a little bit more of themselves into it than the opposition did.
10. While spectators especially love to see the ninety-five yard punt returns, the Hail Mary passes, the 55 yard field goals, the two-point conversions, etc., the reality is this. What actually wins games is not the spectacular “highlight reel” plays.
11. The real goal is this. With all your might, make consistent, measured advances in a positive direction every time you have a chance to make a play – in spite of and in the face of all of the incredible opposition, counter-strategies, end runs, setbacks, blocks, tackles, forced fumbles, interferences, trash talk, and everything else the opposition throws at you.
12. Finally, for now at least, remember that for all of the grueling effort, sweat, hours, grunt work, bruises, and even injuries, it’s STILL FUN! It’s still rewarding. It’s still a GAME! How cool is that?

And by the way. All of the above works for football, too.