FM Walsh & Associates Inc.

How is Soccer Like Business?

Watching my 8-year old niece play her soccer game last weekend, it struck me the business lessons you can learn watching a soccer game.  Certain players really want possession of the ball, they want to score.  You see them tracking the ball, running into the fray assertively going after the ball, not wanting to give it up once they possess it.  Their goal is to score and they flat out go for it.  They don’t worry about what other players are thinking or doing.  They stay focused on what they want.  They don’t stand around and just watch the game – they play it.

Other players hedge their bets, backing off the ball when other players come in.  They rarely score.  So how is the game of soccer like the game of business?  Simple.  The people who score in life, business or soccer are those who clearly define their goals, and passionately focus on taking action to achieve those goals.  They don’t get distracted by other people’s actions.  They wade in and go after what they want.