| Recently Brett Favre, the quarterback for the Green | | | | that was run back for a touchdown.) |
| Bay Packers, broke the all-time NFL touchdown | | | | Why does he throw so many interceptions? Because |
| record. As a fan of football and Green Bay (I grew up | | | | of that willingness to take chances. He makes throws |
| in Wisconsin) I've had the opportunity to watch Favre | | | | he has no business making, and sometimes it bites him. |
| over the years, and I also realized how his career | | | | Now, there are two lessons here to learn. One is, keep |
| provides some valuable business-building lessons. | | | | an eye on your greatest strengths because if you |
| How? Because success is success, whether you've | | | | overuse them, they're also your greatest weaknesses. |
| built a multi-billion dollar company, written a dozen | | | | I'm not saying don't capitalize on your strengths, I'm |
| best-selling novels or are a famous quarterback. Many | | | | saying keep your eyes open and be willing to admit |
| of the same mindset and principles are the same no | | | | when your strength has led you down the wrong path |
| matter how the success manifests itself. What's nice | | | | (and be willing to do something about it.) |
| about sports is first, it's public (the games are televised | | | | The other lesson is of perseverance. Would Favre |
| and the players are forever being interviewed so you | | | | had broken the NFL record for touchdown passes if |
| can get to know them a little) and second, you can | | | | he allowed all those interceptions to get him down? No. |
| see things unfold in a short amount of a time. An entire | | | | And not only that, it never even stopped him from |
| game is completed in 3 hours, compared to business | | | | taking chances. He'll throw an interception, get right |
| where you don't always see success or failure that | | | | back into the game and take the same chance. |
| fast (although sometimes it feels like it!) | | | | Not all the chances or opportunities you take in your |
| That said, this is where I'll share the first 3 of a total of | | | | business are going to work out. You'll have losses and |
| 6 principles (both good and bad) you can learn from | | | | set backs and heartaches and everything else. And |
| Favre to become a more successful business owner. | | | | what you have to learn to do is not allow it to stop |
| 1. Favre is willing to take chances. Watch Favre any | | | | you. Sure, maybe the chance you seized yesterday |
| given Sunday and you'll see him throw into double | | | | was a total disaster, but that doesn't mean the chance |
| coverage, triple coverage, or just in the general | | | | you seize tomorrow will be the best thing that ever |
| direction of a player wearing green and gold. And, | | | | happened in your business. And if you let yesterday's |
| more times then it should, it works. The receiver | | | | failure prevent you from tomorrow's success, you'll |
| makes this spectacular catch and the rest of us all | | | | never break that touchdown record. |
| wonder how on earth he pulled it off. | | | | 3. Favre plays to win, not to not lose. Favre wants to |
| That's what successful people do. They take chances. | | | | win. Period. That's why he takes chances. That's why |
| They see an opportunity and they seize it. And they | | | | he makes throws he has no business making. |
| do it fast. They make a decision and it's done. They | | | | Because he's out there to win. He's not out there to |
| see an opening between the defenders and they whip | | | | not lose the game. |
| the ball in there for an amazing play. | | | | This may sound like a subtle difference, but it's actually |
| 2. Favre's greatest strength is also his greatest | | | | huge. When you play to not lose, what happens? You |
| weakness. As a Green Bay fan, you end up holding | | | | suddenly get very conservative on the chances you |
| your breath as you watch Favre throw. Because it's a | | | | take, the opportunities you go after, and even all the |
| toss up whether you'll be cheering a spectacular throw | | | | choices you make. If you're playing to win, now it's a |
| or groaning because he just threw an interception. | | | | whole different ball game. Even just saying it, playing to |
| It's really no surprise that 2 weeks after he broke the | | | | win, has a whole different energy level. It feels more |
| touchdown record, he also broke the record for most | | | | alive, more passionate. Now you're making entirely |
| NFL interceptions. And, I'm sure he's not done piling up | | | | different choices because you want to win -- not to |
| either the touchdown throws or the interceptions. (In | | | | not lose. |
| fact, his very first throw in the NFL was an interception | | | | |