The Top 20 things I learned about management and business from ice hockey

Anybody who's known me for any length of time understands that I believe #hockey is the greatest sport ever invented.

It is playing chess at 25 MPH in the freezing cold with razor blades on your feet while five other guys are trying to knock you down and a large projectile is flying through the air faster than cars drive.

It is intense. It is mental. It is the hinge pin to keeping me healthy, in every way.

20 years ago I started a top 10 list. It quickly grew into 20. I have recently added 3 more.

Even if you don't follow the game, you can probably see themes of ownership and accountability emerging throughout.

1?? Sometimes looping a 360 and skating the opposite direction is "forward progress"

2?? Manage your energy. You're no good to anybody tired (The Leetch Rule)

3?? A light touch on a small play often sets up the biggest moves

4?? It usually takes three or four people with the same thought in mind to set up a strategy that ends in a goal

5?? Keep your feet moving. At best you will create something that didn't exist previously. At worst, you will draw a penalty that gives your team an advantage

6?? Put all your effort into staying on your feet and in the play. If it is ??% that you were taken down, go down in flames, making sure your failure attracts the attention it deserves. This is no time to be discreet. Learn the lesson. Teach the lesson. Capitalize on the opportunity

7?? Blur your vision a little bit to see the landscape and how it is moving. Especially when you sense tunnel vision. Big picture, wide view

?? Celebrate the other person's accomplishment more than if it was your own. (The Ovechkin Rule)

9?? Slow. It. Down.

Breathe.

Literally say those words out loud to yourself. Slow. It. Down.

Time is relative. Einstein proved it.

?? Think about your inside edge. Actually feel it, intentionally

1??1?? Wear the "C", even if it's not stitched to your jersey. The leader is not always the one that's been named that (The Messier Rule)

1??2?? Stop when you need to stop. Reverse when you need to reverse. Don't hope you can coast through it. The opportunity will be flying by the opposite direction

1??3?? Your teammate's pass was not "off the mark". You were just not keeping up and plotting its trajectory. Don't blame

1??4?? Skate happy. Never let them see you frustrated

1??5?? Keep a short slogan always in mind to use as a mantra. Work on only one thing at a time. (stole that one from an old golf pro)

1??6?? Mind your position. Don't excuse yourself by covering for someone else, unless you have established that as a set play with each other. Be responsible for what others expect you to be accountable for

1??7?? When your opponent has scored against you, acknowledge when it's on you. Better to admit it and have your teammates not accept that, than for it to be true and you don't own it

1??8?? Don't be a puck hog. Get it to the one who's going to do the most damage (slightly qualified by this next one . . . )

1??9?? Take your shot, even when you don't think it's there. Don't hand it off to someone else and make it their problem, or because you think they have more skill. At least, you may get a rebound to a teammate for an easy goal. One pass too many results in turnovers

2??0?? Keep your stick on the ice. There's no excuse for being completely unprepared for an opportunity that presents itself when you had no expectation that it would have.?

2??1?? When you have several choices on Defense, take the one that removes one of the opponent's options. This may not prevent a loss, but it does reduce the options an attacker has, and may even signal to your teammates a stronger position to take. Your Goaltender can focus on 2 possible risks instead of 3

2??2?? Your time on the bench is to rest, recuperate, and reflect. Make good use of downtime

2??3?? Wake up early and practice, preferably with a coach. Don't make people wait for you to figure it out later on their time

? Which one of these would you like explained or applied on more detail in how it relates to success in business?

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