The Astonishing Trait That All Great Entrepreneurs Possess -- And You Can Too

The trait that great athletes and entrepreneurs possess is the ability to rebound under intense pressure.  Athletes and entrepreneurs can overcome seemingly unbelievable and unsurmountable odds.

We fill our company with athletes from all walks of life.  Our only requirement is that they play all-in and with all their hearts.  There are no spaces on the team for players who choose to tread water.  We may work at a company called Fishbowl, but one thing is for sure – we aren’t in the synchronized swimming business, and floaters (those that just come along for the ride) quickly get scooped up and removed.

The most valuable player on our team is not a point-maker; but the rebounder.   Great entrepreneurs possess the ability to rebound like champion athletes.   Rebounders make the most of every opportunity to move the ball toward a common goal with everything in them.

The secret to making your mark as a successful entrepreneur is not to strive to be like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or even Michael Jordan.  Corporate giants of publicly-traded companies are for the most part controlled by boards and stockholders.   Much of Jordan’s success can be attributed to the four team members also on the court who assisted, rebounded, screened and who got bruised and bloodied so that Jordan could make the baskets.

Here are the traits of great rebounders that can help you achieve for your winning season at work:

1. They play from the gut and they play to win all the time: Rebounders and entrepreneurs play full-out and they don’t stop playing until they win. They don’t lose months waiting on analytic reports to determine what the latest trend in business will be.  Rebounders instinctively know where the ball will bounce and how to move to retrieve it.  If they miss a defensive board, they hustle down the court and position themselves for an offensive board.  It is the same for great entrepreneurs.  They aren’t consumed by success or failure (both ends of the court); they simply keep moving in pursuit of the ball.

2. They don’t wait to be told to go get the ball: “Basketball is a simple game. Your goal is penetration, get the ball close to the basket, and there are three ways to do that.  Pass, dribble and offensive rebound,” said legendary basketball coach Phil Jackson.  “I'm hungrier than those other guys out there. Every rebound is a personal challenge,” said one of the all-time great rebounders Dennis Rodman.

3. They rebound for something larger than themselves:  They play for the love of what they build together and every rebound is for the team.  When the game is over, people might not remember their names, but they will remember what they sweated over, gave their all to and why.

If you are still searching for your place in the game of work, you might give the rebounder role a try.

There is always a shortage of rebounders in the workplace.  These individuals do their best to make the best of everything for the company.  They remain in the game of work longer, play more hours in key roles and are trusted and respected by the team.

Here’s to the hardworking rebounders in life and work; the ones who after a fall or a failure discover a way to bounce higher and elevate their game, which translates in continual improvement in all roles of life.  Those who are courageous enough to get on the court every day and rebound their hearts out!

Jackson coached Jordan and Rodman and is considered one of the greatest coaches in the game said, “Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it .”  We think that magic can be found not in the all-stars at work but in the rebounders.

Additional reporting for this article provided by Mary Michelle Scott, Fishbowl President. For additional training offerings: www.7nns.com.