5 Superb Sports Quotes for Business Owners

In business, we often use sports metaphors because they’re so applicable to what we do. Strategy, practice, coaching, wins, losses--they’re all part of the business journey. 

As an avid football fan, I often find guidance and inspiration in the words of Vince Lombardi, who led the Green Bay Packers to five NFL Championships and two Super Bowls in the 1960s and is widely considered one of the greatest coaches in American sports history.

Vince once said, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” This quote reminds me that too many business owners have a vision of perfection, and when their experience deviates from it, it means something is wrong. In fact, it’s the pursuit of perfection that brings the rewards. Failure and course corrections are part of the process--especially in today’s highly data-driven landscape. And, often result in new insights and opportunities that can take our business places we never could have imagined. 

There are plenty of life lessons that business owners can learn from players and coaches. I asked some small business experts about the sports quotes that motivate them.

Be Courageous

Laurie McCabe, co-founder of SMB Group, a research and technology firm focused on technology trends for small and medium-sized businesses, likes this quote from tennis phenomenon Serena Williams: “Make sure you're very courageous: be strong, be extremely kind, and above all be humble." 

This quote is so timely with the growing awareness of the harm that toxic and abusive bosses can cause not only to individuals but to a business’s culture and growth. While the classic image of a strong and brave leader is a no-nonsense powerhouse charging forward, “take no prisoners” style, this approach isn’t always the best way to promote teamwork, trust, and collaboration--which you’ll definitely need for a business to be successful. Being kind and humble is actually the harder path, so it takes more courage.

It’s What You’re Willing to Do

Ivana Taylor, the publisher of DIYMarketers.com, offers a quote from Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin: “It's not about what you're capable of, it's about what you're willing to do.” 

Think about it: if we only do what we think is within our reach right now, that’s incredibly limiting. Business ownership can be a way to explore and expand our capabilities as we delve deep inside ourselves, discovering new sources of strength and talents we didn’t know we had. When we place the goalposts beyond what we think we can accomplish--whether that’s an annual revenue goal or snagging a high-profile client--we should be confident that we’ll find a way to get there.

Take the Fork in the Road

Small business coach Barry Moltz chose a quote from the inimitable Yogi Berra, the legendary New York Yankees player and manager: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

“I love this quote because in business we constantly have to be moving forward even if you don’t know immediately what the correct direction is...Take a path, access the results and take another action based on it,” Moltz explained. 

There will be lots of forks in the road. And they can be perceived as obstacles, or opportunities. Ultimately, success comes from action. Choose a path, evaluate the results, and choose the next path accordingly. 

It’s Whether You Get Back Up

Clearly a woman after my own heart, digital and social media consultant Paula Piccard also chose a quote from Vince Lombardi: "It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up." 

We all get knocked down over and over again, personally and professionally. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown forced many businesses to adapt or pivot to survive. Restaurants moved to carry-out menus and service, hotels offered rooms as working spaces, and shops amped up their e-commerce offerings. 

While the pandemic was a once-in-a-lifetime experience (fingers crossed!), the reality is that all businesses will face challenges throughout their existence, sometimes game-changing ones. The key is to plan to get up again, every time.

Stay in the Game

While most of us won’t ever score a touchdown in a major football game or dunk a basketball in front of thousands of fans, the triumph we feel as business owners can be just as exhilarating. The failure and loss is just as painful. Sports are a great reminder to maintain perspective, stay positive, and keep moving. After all, there’s always a game happening somewhere.

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