Ross Land Registry, Founder and CEO, Innovative Talent Solutions Inc.
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Magic Johnson once said, “For me it always goes back to something I learned in basketball. There’s winning and there’s losing, and in life you have to know that both of them will happen. But which has never been acceptable to me , is to stop.”
This is a fact, for me at least; it sums up my journey to entrepreneurship.
I love basketball – and growing up I devoted most of my spare time to the sport, which I think has influenced who I am as a leader today. I played in the power forward position as a student and was always amazed by the teamwork and fast-paced nature of the game. What struck me, however, was the sheer mental attitude required on and off the pitch, and the coach’s ability to communicate efficiently and effectively with the team, using sometimes minimal verbal cues.
Suffice it to say that my passion for basketball transcended from playing the game to coaching – where, in hindsight, I was definitely where I needed to be in the first place.
As a coach of both high school and club basketball, I have always put a lot of thought and focus into the strategy of the game. The insights and lessons, whether from core research, my experience, or my outright passion for the game, made sure I always understood what it takes to win games. However, winning in this context does not necessarily mean having the best players on the field, but always the best strategy.
These days I find myself feeling sentimental when I think about my entrepreneurial journey and the lessons I learned along the way. I’ve always dreamed of being where I am today and had the mental strength and determination to work hard to get to this point. My goals and aspirations invariably went far beyond the desires of owning a company – because not only did I win in entrepreneurship, but I also knew I was destined to become a career coach and team leader.
I am proud to speak with entrepreneurs almost every day on topics related to financial literacy and disciplines, the impact and influence of black business, industry trends, structure and growth, and the general but thought-provoking solutions for business challenges.
The ability to navigate business effectively using analogies from basketball has always been an inspiration and a catalyst for action for many of my teams and others motivated by my journey. I have always argued that there is a direct correlation between basketball and the profitability and success of my business, where the parallels between corporate ownership and basketball are abundant.
I continue to credit my favorite basketball player, Magic Johnson, for sharing his vision and groundbreaking strategies that have led him and many others to successfully maneuver from basketball success to business success. The five-time NBA champion and retired Hall of Famer said it best: “I wanted to show that athletes could go from the ball court to the boardroom.”
Over the years, the link between basketball and business ownership becomes more and more apparent to me. I am always happy to share insights about my findings with the community in the hope that it inspires action and motivates aspiring entrepreneurs.
Here are lessons I learned on my journey from basketball to entrepreneurship:
You have to do the job: Starting a business isn’t easy – the reality is that you have to take as many risks as the company’s successes. To master something, you have to practice and practice some more.
Failure: Unavoidable in sports as well as in business. The fear of failure can haunt an entrepreneur’s life, whether it be the fear of losing money or losing customers. As an entrepreneur you have to find it in yourself to persevere despite your fears. You will sometimes fail, but you have to be willing to learn from it and adapt. There has to be a level of acceptance and responsibility that comes with failure, as it involves understanding why you failed and taking the necessary steps to ensure you don’t fail the same way twice.
Although you will have heavy losses, you must be able to learn how to win and how to lose. If you understand that every loss you encounter is important to your growth, you can gain more.
Teamwork: The most important resource in any business, just like in a sports team, is people. Reminds me of the Toronto Raptors who won the 2019 NBA Championships. Looking at this team, I believe the main reason they came out on top can be attributed to their teamwork. Every member of that team played an important role, from the players to the head coach and the coaching staff.
Don’t be afraid to push yourself: Fear can both discourage us and motivate us. But always remember the reason you became an entrepreneur and keep that spark alive in you. This is your dream – believe you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
My journey into entrepreneurship has been successful. However, the reality is that not everyone who embarks on this journey will achieve the same success or the same passion for entrepreneurship as when they first started.
Your success will be fundamentally based on your continued, unwavering belief in your vision and your determination and absolute gluttony to bring it to completion.
Be brave. Be passionate. be you!
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