In my opinion, there are three important parameters to be successful in the world of football, all of which are controllable. However, it is not enough for all of them to be perfect, they also need to rotate in a very harmonious synergy, like the gears of the wheel. Drawing on these, there are some very valuable lessons to be learnt and translated into the world of business from team sports.
Primary factor : Player
You can be a very experienced and champion player, but it does not mean that you will not encounter injuries, involuntary problems and unlucky moments during the game. To be a player; it's about more than just the ability to play the game according to its rules.
We have few things to think about and discuss.
First is ‘losing the advantage unexpectedly during the game’. You threw the pass to your teammate at the wrong time, made wrong moves, tried your luck and it didn't work. Sometimes it's not even your fault - the other player threw you out, you fell far behind him, you fell to the ground. What difference does it make: what will you do next? What depicts you is whether you have given up the struggle, come back, or how you came back.
Talent alone, too, is not enough. In addition to how well you play and train yourself, your physical, mental and psychological health are vital resources to your success.
Again the tougher the game gets, the calmer you have to be. You need to learn to deal with stress. Always be the first to strike, fight fiercely and hard, and play to win. But play with a soft mind, move forward with focused and controlled aggression, and play fair and clean. But whatever the circumstances, remember that uncontrolled power is not power.
And...don't just be enough - be simply the best and be open to comebacks.
To illustrate, I'd like to tell you a short story about Ronaldo Nazario aka Ronaldo Phenomenon. This superstar played for PSV Eindhoven, FC Barcelona, FC Inter, Real Madrid, AC Milan, who missed a total of 166 games due to injuries throughout his career, has written his name in golden letters in the history of world football both with the cups he won and the individual achievements he gained.
He has always made solid career comebacks by never stopping, never giving up to work, despite the serious injuries he had suffered many times. Although he had more than 70% of these injuries until the age of 26, he transferred himself to Real Madrid due his hard work, determination and passion.
Despite all the injuries, he crowned his career with 14 personal awards and the cup he won with 17 teams. If Ronaldo had left his dedication to football, he would have turned into an ordinary athlete and ended his career far from success, fame and money. However, when he combined stable work with superior talent, a tremendous success picture emerged.
Second component: Team
A football team usually has more than 25-30 players (some of them are on the field, some of them are on the bench, some of them are in the stands), but about hundreds people that work outside the pitch - from coaches to healthcare team, to business management to scout committee to accounting and marketing.
Once trophy time comes, the podium moment may seem to belong to the few players but always the whole team are the winners. The elation and pride is everyones equally. Your team is definitely more than a brilliant salesperson who seals the biggest deals for the company, or the hardworking director who never sleeps.
From the lowest to the highest tier, this is a team game. There are always superstars fighting for the team, who make magical touches in order to bring the trophies, but it's important to remember that superstars don't mean anything by themselves. It is necessary to provide and create the necessary environment for the superstars to shine. This is truly formed by the other members of the team. It should not be forgotten that there is always strength in unity.
Third component: The Game
In a game, teams may not always be evenly matched for their strength, so it comes down to strategy and tactics. In the business world, your product may not be unique to you - your competitors may also buy from the same supplier or your product specifications may be imitated. Assuming that you do not have a product just for you, I want to share some advices with you ;
Can you find where your opponent is going and predict their next step?
Look around, keep a close eye on your competitors and try to adapt their positive moves to your own workflows. Do not see this as imitation, it is to carry ourselves and our team forward by taking the example of those who are better than us. By adapting systems and methods that we find more efficient than our own, we can achieve more concrete results.
Football is also all about determination where you try, try and try and, even if there is no reply, keep pushing till the door opens.
Those who follow football closely know the story of Edouard Mendy, the Senegalese goalkeeper of the famous English club Chelsea.
Mendy considered retiring from football at just 22 after French lower league side Cherbourgh, for which he played, terminated his contract in 2014.
But his career just got started when he jumped at an opportunity to train with Marseille football club to which was signed although he was not able to make it to the A team only to be transferred to Reims.
Mendy, who played for Reims for three seasons and then transferred to Rennes, signed for Chelsea in 2020 for 24 million euros at the insistence of coach Thomas Tuchel. The rest is history.
He won the UEFA Champions League in his first full season before winning the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.
The most important thing to remember is that you are already in the game. You are even an important part of it. That's why, keep your goals stable, coordinate your teammates and walk confidently towards your future.