Some time ago I was doing my usual channel flipping in my man-cave in a man zoned out tv stupor when I stumble across this show called Undercover Billionaire. These billionaires get $100 and without their connections, name, etc they have to make a million dollars out of 100 in 90 days. This show had so many parallels for my experience with my online racquetball business. That is many parallels except the money! hahaha–so this guy started collecting people. Told them he could not pay them but they would be part of something really big. Without spoiling the show in case anyone wants to watch it, I will share the similarities with what I did with no business experience.
1. As much as possible look at a problem positively; not negatively. During covid I called 2020 a great year. It was in so many ways; especially how it tested people, their character, and perseverance. That type of thinking prevailed on this show.
2. Surround yourself with great people of character. This is the one thing the billionaire kept saying. I have done that in racquetball. Not only great players, but great people. These people want to go into teaching racquetball. That would make them competitors in some coach’s eyes but not mine! I am really happy to promote the young player/coaches who will spread the word! I am very careful about who I link my name to. I want colleagues who want the best for their athletes as people first and racquetball players second.
3. The ‘team” this dude assembled all brought something a little different to the table but all shared one thing; a passion for their mission. In this case it was a restaurant, but in my case it would be racquetball camps, clinics. and instruction.
4. Once all of my instructors that I brush elbows with hit the courts, their number one goal is to do the best they can for the customers. They never “mail it in”! They throw everything they have into teaching folks safe and proper racquetball instruction.
5. Humility-the team assembled on this tv show all pitched in and worked. The billionaire guy got his hands dirty doing menial tasks. He drove his team hard and could not tell them why but he had a 90 day deadline.
6. Faith-the workers on this team had to believe in this man’s vision. The women and men bought in and even a few of them said, “I have no idea why I am doing this, but I feel this is right.”
7. Fun-the chaos of working under pressure caused the people to either prove their worth or prove they could not handle it. There was actually fun involved when you know you are working beside someone who works as hard or harder than you are.
8. Overcoming obstacles-one obstacle after another arose but the team found ways around the obstacles. This reminded me of my athletes with family, school, work and other issues that constantly have to work their way through the barriers that keep them from excellence.
9. Emotion at reaching the goal. -the people on this team got very emotional when they reached their goal. I relate that feeling to watching my athletes win tournaments or big matches. The joy of winning is understood by me due to their hard work. This is the joy I love to share when my athletes reach their goals.
10. Genuine happiness and pride for a job well done. When one puts everything they have into coaching an athlete and then seeing that athlete have success after their belief in you and their hard work, it is an unbelievable high! It is a bond that lasts forever! Long after the racquetball career is over, that athlete remembers the old ball coach and that match or tournament that the coach believed in them, strategized with them, motivated them, and urged them on to a big win!
I became a fan of this show, but alas, it is no longer on the air
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One more thing-this show has one theme-the American dream is not dead. If you have the right attitude this is the country you can achieve anything and there is a reason they all want to come here. Our media does it best to tell us our country for lack of a better word, sucks. So do many of our politicians. This show proves it is possible with the right attitude, people, and ingenuity.