Monday, April 25, 2016

Startups fighting with biggies – an analogy with sports

Dhoni was asked the question just before ODI world cup 2015: which team do you think has the best bowling attack. Dhoni replied that it doesn’t matter. We need to see what best we can do with our bowling attack. It is a practical answer. Startups face similar situation – they can’t afford to have expensive resources. But they can bring out the best out of the given team.

This is what is happening in EPL. We see teams like Leicester City FC which was fighting against relegation last year going for glory this year. Claudio Ranieri has truly brought about a revolution. I feel this is the best year in his coaching career because of this feat. When you are handed a team with rich owners you can afford to bring the best talent and pick and choose. Over here, managing a team which the pundits describe as a ‘one-man team’, he has been able to achieve victory and be a motivation for entire world to show money is not everything.

Yesterday’s victory in which Jamie Vardy had to watch from the sidelines is a classic example of his leadership. You back up the players that you have and show them the direction and put confidence in them – they will take care of the rest.


Same can be said about Rafa Benitez for his bold decision to take up the top job at struggling Newcastle. You won’t see everyday a coach who managed a top team in the world like Real Madrid go and coach a team struggling for survival in the Premier League. This shows that Football is like Oxygen for a good coach like Benitez. He relishes the challenge of bringing them out of trouble. The way he marshalled his resources in an unruffled manner against top teams like Manchester City and Liverpool and took them to fighting draws after being down shows his strength of character.

In a startup, many a times you will observe them fighting against all the odds – limited financial and human resources and competition from Big companies for the same market. But at the end it all falls down to how motivated your employees are – because they are the ones who will make all the difference.

I recently read a quote of FreshDesk founder Girish Mathrubootham and a similar line has been told by many other startup founders too: Always recruit for attitude. Skills can be built. An employee with right attitude will show eagerness to skill himself and help the startup and himself win. Simple as it might sound there lies the key for success!

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