The Business of Basketball

What a wonderful time of year! The snow is finally just about permanently gone here in the midwest, we will have a smattering of 60 and 70 degree days, the flowers are starting to burst through the soil, we get to be silly and celebrate St. Patrick's Day and we get to be very serious and watch basketball!! Starting tomorrow afternoon, there will be anywhere from 3 - 10 (at most times) grown men lounging around our living room soaking in basketball on three t.v.'s. Yes, that's right, it's a mini-version of Buffalo Wild Wings right here at home! If only we could have a flat-screen installed above the toilet in the first floor bathroom I think we would be golden!! I absolutely love that my husband and his buddies get together every year to watch these games. It's a wonderful opportunity for comraderie, stress-release and just good old fashioned conversation. By "conversation" I mean, "DRIVE TO THE HOOP!" "You Idiots, you won't win if you can't score!" That sort of good old fashioned conversation. One of my favorite stand-up comedians, Rob Riggle, does a whole bit about how he can spend 45 minutes on the phone with his best friend and not find out a single thing about his friend's life - not how his kid is doing, if his mom's still sick, nothing. I am quite certain that is happening all around the country this week as friends gather to take in the basketball action. I say, "Cheers! Go to it!"

The NCAA tourney is for all intents and purposes, survival of the fittest. A lot like life, and a whole lot like business. Isn't it true that in business the weak don't often survive? You have to want to win, and you have to want to win more than the other team (competition) does. You have to be willing to scrap, throw yourself into the bleachers and sprint when you are out of breath. There will be times of upset where a "Cinderella" team makes a run for the title, but ultimately, they will have to have flawless execution and determination in spades in order to pull off the victory.

When it all gets a little overwhelming, ask yourself: Do I want it? Do I want it more than everyone else? Am I willing to take the game-winning three and shoulder the responsibility of victory and defeat? If the answer is yes, then trench in and be the fittest Cinderella out there.

Until next time, have a super week!
Susan