The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Lessons from Eli Manning

I had the unique opportunity to attend an event with Eli Manning, and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Ryan Enriquez and Citizens bank for this incredible invite and for hosting such a fantastic event.

As someone who has never been particularly enamored with football, I entered with modest expectations. Yet, I emerged with newfound enthusiasm, eagerly anticipating the next Super Bowl. Here’s what entrepreneurs can learn from Eli Manning’s approach to both football and life.

1. Staying Grounded: Listening to Eli, one thing struck me – his humility. Despite his tremendous success, he didn't exhibit any air of superiority. He's a reminder that no matter how high we climb, our feet should always stay on the ground. It's like in our startup world, isn't it? No matter our achievements, staying humble keeps us connected and real.
2. Passion is Everything: You know how we always say, "Follow your passion"? Eli lives this to the core. Eli emphasized the importance of pursuing what you love. The cliché “do what you love” was personified in his words. He made me think – if we're not 200% in love with what we're doing, are we really in the right game?
3. The 'B Team' Isn't So Bad: Eli spoke candidly about the pressure on young athletes and the importance of trying different things until the age of ~15. It’s fine not to be on the A team right away. In the entrepreneurial world, this translates to valuing the journey, learning from early ventures, and understanding that initial setbacks don’t define your ultimate success. It hit home for me. Starting out, not being at the top, learning the ropes – it's all part of our entrepreneurial journey.
4. Teamwork is Gold: Listening to Eli talk about his teammates with such respect was a lesson in teamwork. His positive remarks about teammates and fellow athletes underscore the importance of collaboration. In our ventures, it's the same, right? We're only as strong as the people we collaborate with.
5. Cool Heads in Crunch Time: Eli's reflections on pivotal touchdown moments highlighted the importance of focus and doing the right thing under pressure. Eli's take on handling high-pressure moments was a masterclass in staying cool and focused. Entrepreneurs often face high-stakes situations, and maintaining composure and clarity is key to navigating these successfully. As entrepreneurs, we face our share of these nail-biting situations. Staying level-headed? That's the key.
6. Embrace the Journey: Eli’s career epitomizes the truth that success is a journey, not a destination. Overnight results are a myth, both in sports and entrepreneurship. Progress takes time, persistence, and patience. It’s about embracing each step, learning, and growing along the way. In our entrepreneurial quests, we need to embrace the long haul, savoring each step and growing along the way.

Standing near the Super Bowl trophy, I felt an overwhelming sense of respect – for the effort, the sweat, the resilience it symbolizes. In our entrepreneurial world, that's what we strive for. Our own 'Super Bowl trophy', won through hard work and perseverance.

So, here’s to taking these down-to-earth lessons and applying them to our own dreams and ventures. Thanks again to Citizens Bank for such an insightful and inspiring experience.

#Entrepreneurship #BusinessLessons #EliManning #Ricovr #Superbowl24