They’re still celebrating in Seattle after the Seahawks stunned the nation with their 43-8 upset over the Denver Broncos, but business owners shouldn’t stop talking about Super Bowl XLVIII any time soon. There are a lot of lessons the young team from Seattle can teach entrepreneurs.
Carroll: Don’t Rely on One Person
“We don’t want to build an offense around one guy, and we don’t want to build it around a guy that has to execute or you don’t have your day go right. We want to build one that’s got diversity and balance to it, that’s got attitude about it and principles. We have enough players on the team that can make things happen if the quarterback gives them the chance.”
Head coach Pete Carroll is no stranger to success on the field. Carroll set numerous records while coaching collegiate football and, with his team’s decisive victory against the Broncos, became the third coach in history to win a National Championship and a Super Bowl. This success might explain why Carroll chooses to vary from the traditionally held practice of depending on one or two exceptional players and instead encourages every player to make an impact on the field.
As a business owner, you must do the same. You can’t expect to grow if you can’t trust your employees to carry equal weight, and giving yourself the brunt of the workload is out of the question. Instead, take the time to find quality employees who can bring different talents to your company. Give them a chance to surprise you.
Wilson: What’s Stopping You?
“I remember my dad asking me one time, and it’s something that has always stuck with me: ‘Why not you, Russ?’ You know, why not me? Why not me in the Super Bowl? So in speaking to our football team earlier in the year, I said, ‘Why not us? Why can’t we be there?'”
Perhaps the most surprising part of the Seahawks’ victory was that it came at the hands of 5’11” Russell Wilson, someone many felt was too short to be a successful quarterback. Instead of letting his height stop him, Wilson led his team his team to the top. He might have been the sixth quarterback drafted when he joined the NFL in 2012, but he performed better than one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
It can be easy to doubt yourself when you first start your business, especially if you’re in a really competitive industry. Instead of letting the established companies discourage you, focus on your strengths. Remind yourself what you’re capable of and why you started your business.
Sherman: If You’re the Best, Make it Known
“Well, I’m the best corner in the game! When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that’s the result you’re going to get!”
Richard Sherman’s “epic rant” after securing the NFC Championship title ignited a social media firestorm, with many condemning the cornerback for his “classless” post-game interview. Sherman’s message certainly could have been phrased differently, but it serves as a good reminder that tooting your own horn every now and then is important.
The caveat, of course, is to do so in ways that doesn’t make you look petty. If a new business prospect says one of your competitors offers the same services at a lower price, you’ve got to justify your pricing by showing how your company is superior to others. You can use client testimonials, statistics or case studies to get this point across without coming sounding like a braggart.
