With Superbowl XLIX fast approaching, it’s as good a time as any to take a mindful look at one of the game’s brightest stars, Marshawn Lynch – running back of the Seattle Seahawks. I know, I know, what am I doing writing about a player of the opposition… Don’t worry, my allegiance to the Patriots is unwavering, but truth be told, I find the personality of Lynch to be one of the most fascinating of all professional athletes.
Let’s dissect a handful of Lynch’s famed quotes and shift the context a bit into the business world and marketing yourself as a force to be reckoned with in your respective industry. Ready? This will be fun. Let’s turn on “Beast Mode” and give this a crack…
“…Mind my business, stay in my own lane. Just kick back. Game time though, I'll be there.”
In the business world, it’s important that you’re marketing yourself in a manner that differentiates your organization from your competitors. You don’t want to throw yourself into the same pool as everyone else. There’s no benefit in that. Mind your business. Stay in the lane that strategically gets you from point a to point b while maintaining your focus on what matters. Ready yourself for the battle, play the game, and reap the benefits of the win that comes from being well prepared.
“…They're gonna have to stop all of us. You feel me? I’m a piece to it, but we got some dogs.”
Surround yourself with teammates who have the same underlying goal in mind. Surround yourself with a squad that complements each other with their own unique strengths. One star isn’t going to automatically earn you a victory. All the pieces need to be in place to achieve success.
"I just read it."
That said, be prepared to be the team player that can read the holes, and instantly fill them when the opportunity presents itself. It’s about finding those holes, and using them to your advantage. Remember that lane we were talking about in the first quote on this list? This goes hand in hand with that…. If the hole closes before you hit it, game over – victory goes to the competition.
“I'm just about that action, boss.”
Action is everything. Taking action and being a leader is going to strengthen the core. When your team is full of leaders all working to achieve the same goal, you’re going to be difficult to take down.
“I ain't never seen no talking win me nothin’. You want somethin’, you go get it. Ain’t no need to talk about it.”
Again. It’s about action. Brainstorming and bouncing ideas off the team is one thing. And, truth be told, it is important. But if all you’re doing is talking, the end result isn’t going to be good… It’s as simple as the man says: if you want something, go get it.
“Is there anybody out there?”
Yes. There is. There’s a whole world of people out there. It’s your job to reach out to them and, without talking about it, prove to them why you’re worth their time.
"When a defender comes up to tackle me, I want (them) to feel that ground. I would describe the point of impact as a wonderful feeling. It's what I thrive on: contact."
In putting yourself out there, you’re going to field some opposition. It’s the nature of the beast. You’re going to take hits. You’re going to lose some of the time. That’s what makes you stronger and inspires your next approach to be more powerful than the first.
"I feel like on that field, there's no reason I can't run through you. I know I'm gonna get got, but I'm going to get mine more than I get got."
Don’t give up. If you hit the ground once, get back up and look for that hole. Once you see it, hit it. The rest will fall into place. Nobody wins the first time they step onto the field. It’s important (and crucial in the business world) to learn from our mistakes.
“I don’t know what’s in store. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. All I can do is keep trying to be the best me that I can be.”
While it’s important to be mindful of the future, and to not be shortsighted about things, it’s imperative that you focus on today. Without today there is no tomorrow. And, where there’s no guarantee of a tomorrow, today is all you really need to worry about. Make it count.
“I’m thankful.”
At the end of the day, be humble. Be sincere. People like doing business with folks they can count on. They like doing business with those they consider a trusted source, and give thanks for a transaction that takes place. If you’re a jerk who doesn’t take the time to express gratitude and is taking advantage of those that are fueling your bottom line, you’re going to lose more than you’re going to win.
Beast Mode is bold. That’s what we’re all about here at Boldwerks. When it comes to action, we’re always practicing exactly that. Here’s to a good game this coming Sunday, and to a future of successful business practice. As always, we’re here for you if you need us. When it comes to game time, we’re there – GronkSpike and all…
