What the Olympics Teach Us About Business Development

We are proud of the athletes representing our country as well as countries all over the globe during the Olympics in Paris. Like many, my favorite events to watch are gymnastics and swimming. I watched with excitement and awe when the men’s team clawed back from adversity to take the bronze. Watching a fellow engineer (Stephen Nedoroscik) wait patiently for 3 hours to compete in a 90-second event to secure the medal. To watch others, like Brody Malone, come back from a potentially career-ending injury and handle adversity with such professionalism. 

Such highs and lows in sports. So much time is invested to perfect your craft. And yet, you may still come in last. But the athletes do it with such passion and commitment – fighting onward.

So how do their efforts translate at all to business development? 

1.     There are highs and lows in business development. For most, you lose more times than you win. Despite failures, you must keep working at it.

2.     Improving your communication skills is essential. Business development doesn’t come naturally to most. Even if you can communicate well, you must work on relationship-building.

3.     You must build your routine. Invest time researching client trends and needs, following up on leads, and developing service offerings and your brand.

4.     Be grateful for the small wins and support. Appreciate the people around you -your team, clients, and others that help you persevere.

Nothing is easy in life. Apply yourself to your craft; work on your relationships, and try to do something more every day. You can become a better business generator.