Monday Morning Match is a quick post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.
Tonight there will be a new NCAA Men’s Basketball Champion crowned in Indianapolis. The final game of the season will be played tonight in Lucas Oil Stadium between the Duke Blue Devils and the Wisconsin Badgers. It seems like it will be an epic game between two very talented teams led by hall-of-fame coaches Mike Krzyzewski and Bo Ryan. As you get ready to watch the game (I’ll be there in person thanks to my friend Michael McClure and the awesome people at AT&T), think about these ideas to put into your game plan this week.
Blue Blood or Blue Collar – Is your business well-known and established in your marketplace like Duke is in the college basketball world or is it built in the scrappy, hard-working mold of the boys from Madison? Duke is appearing in their 16th Final Four and will be vying for their 5th title. A very solid pedigree for sure. Wisconsin on the other hand hasn’t been to the Championship game since 1941 and have only been to the Final Four 4 times. Wisconsin displays a strong work-ethic similar to what you’d find in the neighborhoods and towns across the Badger State.
How can you leverage your tradition while also benefiting from teamwork that gets everyone involved?
Coaching from the Sidelines – Coach K and Coach Ryan have each won 4 National Championships. Krzyzewski won his at Duke while Ryan helped lead University of Wisconsin Platteville to 4 Division III titles. Tonight, one of them will earn their 5th. While the players (and schools) may have changed, these men remained constant in their focus on executing the basics better than their competition.
Who do you have helping you do the things it takes to get to the next level in your business?
Ignore the Hype – Both teams entered the Final Four weekend hearing lots of people talking about their opponents. Duke was supposed to be challenged by the always tough Michigan State Spartans while the Badgers would have to defeat the only undefeated team in college basketball this season – the University of Kentucky Wildcats. Once the ball is tipped to start the game, no one else determines the outcome except the players on the floor.
How will you drown out the noise that is prevalent in your business to stay focused on business development activities?
Ignore the Hate – Ask most college basketball fans who their most hated team is and chances are, Duke will be one of the schools you’ll hear as answers. Maybe it’s because they are good or maybe it’s because they win…a lot. Duke is a small, private school located in Durham, NC that has very difficult entrance requirements and tremendous expectations of their student athletes. It’s almost like they feed on the negative energy they get in every arena (except their home gym known as Cameron Indoor Stadium) and use that to bring out their best.
You’re not looking to make friends in this business but you are hoping to gain the respect of your peers and competition. I’ll probably never pull for Duke basketball to win a game but you’ll never hear me doubting their commitment to excellence and pride in their team.
Focus on the Basics – Part of the reason Duke and Wisconsin will play for the title when the ball tips tonight is that they are some of the most fundamentally sound teams in the game today. Dribbling, passing, shooting and rebounding better than your opponent usually insures a victory for the more skilled team.
What are you doing each day to hone your skills when it comes to building relationships, solving problems and having fun?
It’s Not All About Offense – Sure, the winning team will be the one that scores the most points (remember…”scoring” in our business involves securing appointments, listing homes, writing offers and closing transactions) but a huge part of that is locking down on defense. Both Duke and Wisconsin play very good team defense from the perimeter all the way to the paint down near the basket. Any of the players you’ll see are willing to dive on the floor for a loose ball or crash the backboard to secure a rebound if it means they will help their team.
How skilled are you (or a team member) at making sure the dirty work gets done each day? Business support activities are critical to taking your customer and making them a client and making sure that those “in contracts” make it to the “closed” pile of files. Who is making sure you’re putting up a strong “defense” each day…but not at the expense of your business development activities?
Understanding Strengths and Weaknesses – This one is simple. The coaching staffs of each school have spent the last 40+ hours since Saturday nights semi-final games analyzing their opponents strengths and weaknesses and how they can minimize the former and exploit the latter.
You should constantly be looking for ways to build on your strengths and manage around your weaknesses.
Leave it All on the Floor – I’m excited to watch this game in person with 72,000+ close friends in Indy. I know each team understands that all that stands between them and history are the 40:00 on the clock when the game starts. Every possession requires 100% effort. Every timeout demands listening to the coaches and trainers guidance, advice and encouragement. Every moment on the floor is a chance to play your best. Every time up and down the court is a chance to be better than your opponent.
What’s your attitude when you “get in the game?”
Lace up your shoes and get your game face on. It’s time to toss the ball in the air and start the game. Who knows…you might be part of an “Instant Classic”?