What do the BCS National Championship Game and small business success have in common? It’s about playing to win. As the national championship football game between Auburn University and the University of Oregon is about to begin you may say, “Well isn’t that obvious?”
Small Business Success: What Is Your Mindset?
Yes, it is obvious that both teams are playing to win. Yet, too often as a personal business coach I see self-employed business owners who think small business success is about “playing not to lose.” Do you have the mindset to win?
When you are “playing not to lose” you are not really in the game. Why? Because when you are in the game, playing the game is about winning. Playing the game to win is about going all out with whatever you have.
Small business success is the same. You get in their and give it all you have. I can guarantee you that neither the Auburn or Oregon players are going to holding back. They are playing to win.
Small Business Success: It Is A Contact Sport
And, like football, small business success is a contact sport. You must meet challenges and overcome them. You are playing to win.
When you are starting your own business it is like receiving a kickoff and you advance the ball as far as you can on the return. Then you go into your startup business plan (game plan) and start executing your business marketing plan (plays) to advance your business (ball) down the field.
You are playing to win. Your first profitable week may be like getting a first down. Your first profitable month may be like kicking a field goal. And, your first profitable year is like a touchdown. If you have your most profitable year ever that is like adding the extra point.
Small Business Success Is Determined By The Final Score
Just as a winner is determined by the final score in football, winning in small business and small business success are determined by the numbers. And, to have that small business success, you will do whatever it takes.
On the other hand, if you are “playing not to lose” your focus is on being careful first and winning second. You think you must not make a mistake. Therefore, you may miss opportunities. You worry about tomorrow and forget to take care of today.
You may hoard your resources because you are coming from a scarcity mentality. You are afraid to go all out. If you don’t advance your business (get a first down) you have to punt. And when you punt you think it is the end of the world.
When you are playing to win you understand that you will have to punt and that there will be setbacks. You understand that this is part of the game and if you are playing to win that these detours come with the territory.
Both Oregon and Auburn are championship teams. Championship teams play to win. Whether you are an entrepreneur or solo professional one of the most important keys to success is to play to win. You can’t have small business growth and advance your business as you would like if you are playing not to lose.
Play to win every day in your small business. At the end of 2011 if you have had more winning days than losing ones your will win the game, the game called small business success.
