How Playing Competitive Sports Has Influenced the Success of Industry Professionals

An inside look with Diane Danielson, Founder of Future Proof Research Collaborative   - (Blog series - I)

One of the most trending and striking marketing campaigns at this very moment is the new digitally mastered sports video by Nike featuring athletes all around the world. We are witness to some of the greatest athletes of all times. Like me, some of you are genuinely lovers of any competitive sports on television and enjoy a little side betting too. From the holes-in-one, the 99-yard interception downfield to win the game, the shattered glass dropping to the court to shattered dreams from a sports injury, we have love for the game. 

In this special 6-Part Blog Series, you will get to learn about some of the most successful businessmen and women who are dominating the playing field and have risen to the top as thought leaders, keynote speakers, authors, influencers and more. 

It is with no introduction to many, Diane Danielson is a businesswoman who has led a global brand change, developed technological platforms, streamlined operations and is the voice and leadership of her diversity and inclusion efforts. She is a Forbes.com honoree as one of 40 over 40 Women to Watch in 2013 and just last year, won the prestigious CREW Boston Leadership Achievement Award to name a few. Diane is an author of several books and white papers on building company culture, networking, leadership, and generational impact leading charge so it is no surprise at all that she was also a Division I tennis player at Colgate University. 

But wait, let’s not forget to add that soccer was her first and favorite love of the sport. “Thanks to Title IX, I played on traveling team that won states, competed in the eastern regionals and even in Canada,” said Danielson. After a devastating injury in high school (broken tibia), Diane made the transition over to tennis and ended up as one of the TOP 10 players in Maryland within 2 years. She played in the Double state finals and proceeded to play Division I collegiate sports. Diane was competitive indeed. From 1 – 10, she rated herself being 10 as competitive on herself and for her team, but around 7-8 against others. 

I have always believed that industry professionals are very much like professional athletes. The similarities are comparable in that we all dedicate ourselves to perfecting our game/business. We train to become better each day and more importantly we strive to achieve success. What word best defines her as an athlete and businesswoman? “Resilience,” she said.   For someone who led a corporation for many years and paved the way for herself in her career, there were four major components that affected who she was as an athlete and who she became as businesswoman. 

In her own words: 

Teamwork:   I love being part of a team and perform better with a team (i.e. I was better doubles player than singles player). And I'm still a utility player. I was the player that the coach could put in any position on the soccer field. Being able to adapt and learn and see the field from other perspectives is a business strength too.

Resilience: Devastating losses happen in sports and life. Athletes must step back onto the field and believe in themselves. The same in business.

Persistence: I was never the fastest or the strongest (and ironically, until high school I was the smallest) on the soccer field or tennis court, so I had to overcome those by working harder and smarter than those more naturally gifted. In business, working harder and smarter (you need both) can be a huge differentiator.

Confidence: When I have had personal and professional setbacks in the last 30 years, I literally escaped to the soccer field. I just felt more in control. I knew the rules, I had the skills and while I have become a bit slower (which is frustrating), it was always a good sanity check that I can do hard things. When things got tough, I would close my eyes and picture a beautiful goal and what it felt like, then get right back at it.

Clearly Diane has the kind of work ethics that have been the driving force behind her continued success today. Sometimes we are placed in uncomfortable situations where even the toughest decisions must be made. As an athlete or a professional, we oftentimes are even hard on ourselves. Diane stated, “I can remember every single loss in my tennis career, yet none of the wins.” The transition into playing collegiate sports was about that she was also playing for scholarships. In some ways, that added a little more pressure as her focus being “not to lose.” At times it was a very lonely place as an individual athlete. Whereas soccer for her was about wanting to win with the team. What would she say to her younger self?

“You can be good at playing not losing, but it's not enough and it's unsustainable as it's driven by fear; you have to love what you do to really win and empower others.”

Today, Diane would rate herself a little less competitive individually but always working at the top of her game when she is working with a team. Make no mistake y’all Diane is still moving and shaking out there. Today, she is still actively involved with sports. Her boyfriend and her won the tennis tournament they entered last year. She also enjoys yoga, hiking, snow shoeing and kayaking on her downtime. “I realize that I'm now challenging myself to try new things almost every day. This is very different from my younger years or my sports career.

Business is a beautiful thing and it can be very competitive at times so the hustle, dedication and discipline will overlap. It is important for the younger generation to know the true value of winning is. 

In her own words: 

Not every moment at work needs to be hyper competitive. You don't win just because others lose. Bring to work what you learned playing "pick-up" sports. That's generally a good attitude, motivation, an ability to work with others and creativity. Too many young people today are not getting the lessons we once learned in sports: resilience, teamwork, adaptability, and innovation. They are over-coached, there's a team for everyone, and no room for failure. When you play pick-up, you might have the freedom to try a new move, that you wouldn't try in a hypercompetitive setting. In pickup sports, there aren't always rules, sometimes you have to make them up and adapt. The same goes with business. It's not going to be as structured as school or organized sports. It's more like pick-up.

Without a doubt, Diane is just as fierce in business as she once was on the soccer field and tennis court. Anyone can give up. You can quit after you get injured and hang in the towel or you can become extraordinary by pursuing greatness in whatever you set your mind to. Always take the time to invest in yourself first and everything else will fall into place. Do not waste opportunities on being just anyone, be resilient by becoming someone. Be your own champion.