March Madness: Not Just For March

The Michigan Wolverines huddle up as they prepare to play against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits during the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at at The Palace of Auburn Hills on March 21, 2013 in Auburn Hills, Michigan

I love March Madness. When watching any sport, I am always intrigued to watch the dynamics of the individual players and the team as a whole. Who is going to not only make the last game-winning shot, but who is the player with the most assists? Which team's superstar can dial back the ego and make his teammates feel he wants them to succeed and shine?

Unfortunately I am too short to play basketball for a living, but I am attempting to make my way in life as an entrepreneur, a father and a mentor. This means that I have to do a lot of coaching. Teams work best when the players are selfless and guess what? The fish stinks from the head down. Teams become championship caliber when they have 3 core values: selflessness, camaraderie and the ability for each individual to know their own specific role and to play it. You can't be everything, so don't try.

When imparting life’s hard earned lessons unto my employees, colleagues, children and others, I cannot stress enough the importance of building the right relationships. Relationships can make or break one’s success. Start with your teammates; make them feel that you are there to lift them up. You are committed to making them better.

Success is a team effort, and so is failure. Sure, a player on your team can rim out a jump shot in the last few seconds of a game causing a loss, but the loss has to be shared. No finger pointing or griping - that never leads one to the final bracket. Beware of primordial instincts, as they can sometimes kick in and cause you to begrudge someone for making the team lose, or for taking too much credit for a team win. Trust me, a better result will come if you dial back the animal instincts of envy and resentment and dial up the connection with your teammates. Congratulate them on their successes, cheer for them on the setbacks and recognize, as in sports, successful business teams are often about taking calibrated risks and minimizing mistakes.

No one at SkyBridge works for me; they work with me - and sometimes I work for them. Business owners are custodians not just to their employees and own families, but also to their employees’ families. The most successful business leaders are the ones who put the best interests of the company and all of its constituents before themselves.

Regardless of if my pick of Indiana takes the NCAA tourney or not, I hope the young players come off the court with the experience of a lifetime. Moments filled with excitement and learning, and also the joy of just being in the game. Look out for the players on the court with the most assists, the dudes passing the ball – they are the ones I want to hire.

Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images