My 5-year old son just completed his first season of flag football. Over the 12 game season he learned a lot about the sport and about socializing with kids his own age. Believe it or not, I actually learned a lot as well from watching he and his teammates play.
As an avid football fan, I didn’t learn anything new about the rules of the game. Instead, I learned several lessons that can actually be translated into starting a home business. Sounds a little strange I know, but you would be amazed at what 5, 6, and 7 year old boys can teach you.
Here are 5 lessons I learned from watching my son play flag football that can be used to start a home based business.
1. Always Play by the Rules
It is hard to believe (at least for me) but there were some kids on my son’s flag football team who didn’t always play by the rules. In some cases, it was kids just making mistakes and holding onto the shirts of their opponents. In other cases, it was kids tackling the opposing ball carrier instead of pulling their flag. In any case, each time a player did not play by the rules, the entire team was penalized.
A home based business is no different. In order to establish credibility with your customers and suppliers, you need to play by the rules. Operating a business that is not ethical can lead to fines and possible criminal charges. Even if you are not breaking the law, you should still follow best business practices in your operation.
2. Teamwork is Critical to Your Success
As the old saying goes – “there is no I in team”. Football is a team sport and requires 11 players (or 9 in the case of our flag football team) in order to function properly. While there may be individual players who stand out more than others, they still must rely on their teammates to win.
Operating a home based business is no different. Teamwork is absolutely necessary in order to survive. Even if you are running the business by yourself and have no employees, you still need to rely on others to succeed. Networking with others, hiring virtual assistants, getting support from your friends and family are all important. Believe it or not these people are also part of your team and you need their help to succeed.
3. Have Fun and Enjoy What you Do
As I sat through the 12 game flag football season, I noticed one thing each time. Every kid on both sides of the ball were having fun. The smiles and laughter were a pleasure to see. Parents, coaches, and players were there to have fun and enjoy playing and watching a football game.
If you decide to start a home business in something you have no interest in, there is a good chance it will fail. Even if the money to big to pass up, more than likely at some point you will fail with your business. In order to build a solid and long lasting business, you need to have fun and enjoy what you are doing!
4. Building a Solid Playbook is Crucial
The game of football requires a solid playbook in order to successfully operate an offense. Having no playbook or plan that the team can follow will give the opposition the advantage. Can you imagine how ugly it would be to have the offense of your favorite football team not have any preset playbook?
Running a home based business is no different than a football team. You need to have a playbook or master plan. In most businesses it is required to have a business plan in order to seek loans and other financial backing. Even if your business does not require a formal business plan, having a guide or plan is critical to your success.
5. Don’t be Afraid to Learn New Things
My son was very hesitant to play flag football this year. None of his friends were playing and it was a sport that he knew nothing about. After a little coaxing, he decided that he would give it a try and ended up loving it. Even though he was afraid to play at first, he ended up really enjoying it and made a lot of new friends along the way.
In order to start a home business, you need to be willing to try new things. Having the ability to change and adapt is critical to your success. For example, ignoring the latest technological advances can give your competition the upper hand and leave your business in the dust. Businesses that are willing to learn new things and adapt are much likelier to be around in 10 years as opposed to one that does not.
It is amazing how many life lessons you can learn just from watching an every day event. What other daily events do you follow to learn things about starting a business?
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Great article, lesson #3 I believe is the most important!
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