Last week Thursday, millions of football fans all across the world, were glued to their television screen, to watch, who will win the most coveted individual award in football, the 2019 FIFA Player of the Year, Men’s Award for men.
For the past ten years, the award has been shared between Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi and just, like before, people were expecting, either, of the two, to win the award.
Alas, the award went to a different player, entirely, this time around; Virgil Van Dijk, a defender, who plays for Liverpool FC.
What really impressed me, was not that, for the first time in a long while, another player won the award, it was what Christiano Ronaldo said during the ceremony that got me thinking.
“We shared the stage for 15 years, me and him. I don’t know if it has ever happened before in football. The same two guys, on the same stage, all the time, so it’s not easy, as you know and of course, we have a good relationship. We have not had dinner together yet, but I hope in the future, we can have one. I missed playing in Spain, like me and Lionel, battle a lot, which I think is good. He pushes me and I push him, so, it’s good to be part of the history in football. I am there and he is there.”, Christiano Ronaldo stated at the event.
I was totally blown away by this remark and I started thinking of all the things entrepreneurs can achieve if they simply relate with their competitors this way in building up an effective business model.
Below are 3 things entrepreneurs can learn and start practicing, from Christiano Ronaldo’s remarks:
Understand The Term, “Healthy Rivalry”
In a world, where, business competition is getting stiffer and disruptive technologies, are shaping the tech ecosystem, there is bound to be rivalry amongst entrepreneurs, trying to have an edge over one another.
While the rivalry is good, as it sometimes, leads to healthy competition, if properly managed, some can be outrightly bad and damaging.
The duo of Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo, took the term, “rivalry”, to another level, as records were made, shattered and re-made, by these super-talented guys and its no wonder one of the duos was tipped to win the 2019 FIFA Men Player of the Year Award
Understand that, your competitors are not your enemies, neither, are they your friends. Learn to tread between the thin lines that demarcate them.
“Competition is, always, a good thing. It forces us to do our best. A monopoly renders people complacent and satisfied with mediocrity”, Nancy Pearcy, an Author, stressed.
Healthy rivalry, will push you and your team, to be better, in what you do and it is very much okay, to have a perfect idea of what your competitors are up to, in terms of the latest product that, they are pushing into the market and their latest promos and other things, in between.
Focus On Your Start-up
Once you start getting jittery about the growth and success of other start-ups, there is a high probability, for you to be carried away and it may result in your losing focus and revenue.
“The successful warrior is the average man with the laser-like focus”, observed Bruce Lee.
Focus, not on the strategies employed by your competitors, as there is a high probability that, it may not work for you, but instead, focus on yourself and get busy.
Come up with something original and relative to you.
“You should learn from your competitor but never copy. Copy and you die”, stated Jack Ma, Founder, Alibaba, with finality.
Be The Best At What You Offer
Before the 2019 FIFA Men player of the year award, the duo of Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo, did not just get to the pinnacle of their career, by being ordinary, in what they do.
They took football, to a much, higher level, in terms of scoring interesting goals, beautiful dribbling skills and breathtaking run-ins, to assert their authority, on the field of play, during matches.
They are, indeed, legends in what they offer on the football pitch and their presence alone, causes a stir, in the minds of their opponents.
“Be undeniably good. No marketing effort, or, social media buzzword, can be a substitute for that.” Antony Volodkin, Founder, Hype Machine.
Whatsoever products and services that your start-up is providing, aspire to be the best in it. Work towards perfection and carefully, eliminate errors.
Featured Image: justfootballnews
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