Hoop Dreams
Posted by Beth Austin
Last week I heard Steve Abbott, the University of Maine's athletic director, speak at a local chamber event. Throughout his talk, he provided a number of examples of the broad-reaching effects of participating in athletics. In addition to the advantages for the college, he also suggested other benefits with "real-world" applicability for participants. Notably, he cited a recent study that found that 81% of women who are successful in business (defined as having an annual salary of $75K per year or higher) defined themselves as "athletic." We've all been subjected - to the point of tedium - with various sports-themed business analogies over the years, but, nevertheless, Abbott's example struck me as interesting. What is the connection between successful women and athletics? Sure, there may be a certain amount of response bias going on here, but the result suggests a broader connection between sports and business.
My initial impulse on what that connection might be focused on the more contrived (although accurate) concepts of strategy, teamwork, and practice. I think I even threw tenacity in there for good measure. But I could argue that these skills could be honed by being on the debate team or drama club or some other non-athletic focused activity. What's different about sports?
My son began his basketball season a few weeks ago and he's at the age where it's starting to be a Big Deal. I especially enjoy watching him work on drills. His focus and determination are something to behold, and it strikes me that if he exhibits these attributes in his career endeavors later on he'll likely be successful. I began to wonder whether the relationship between sports and business success was simply the overlap in personality traits, but it seems there are other connections, that are perhaps not as obvious.
When I was a junior in high school, I got cut from the basketball team. I was devastated. I specifically recall my mother trying to console me at the time by telling me that "five years from now I wouldn't even remember it." That was a long time ago (let's just say that it's been more than five years and we'll leave it at that), and not only do I still remember it, but I consider to it be defining moment in my life. Although you might expect that it was a lesson in dealing with rejection disappointment, it was really much more than that. In short, I thought the coach was wrong. Over the next year, I worked my tail off and tried out again my senior year. I made the team. I still harbor a secret wish that my determination and perseverance led me to become the Larry Bird of Eastern Maine Class A Girls' Basketball, but in reality, that's not exactly how it worked out. In fact, my function on the team might most accurately be described as "uniformed spectator." But that was OK. I didn't have to be a superstar to reap the benefits. There were life lessons there beyond just the basic strategy/practice/tenacity clichés. In the end, it was really about how to constructively deal with criticism and to find the self confidence, perseverance, and strength that you need to fight for the "right" outcome. I'm frequently grateful that my mother was wrong and that I didn't just "forget about it" because I would have missed these lessons entirely.
As I grappled to come up with some deep insight that would definitively illuminate the connection between athletics and business success, I began to realize the answer may not be universal. The experience plays out differently for each individual and the impact manifests itself in a multitude of ways. The important part is only in applying what you've learned.