I get asked often, what makes a good entrepreneur and when taking it into account, entrepreneurship is a thing of the strong, requiring a bunch of skills, experience, preparation and tenacity. Piecing all these together, one of the greatest sportsmen ever and undoubtedly one person with an undying will to do more(another key quality) Cristiano Ronaldo comes to mind.
Much has been said about the Portuguese star born in 1985, but here are some lessons that can be learnt from Ronaldo’s award studded career.
Often considered the best player in the world and widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Or awards and four European Golden Shoes,
31 major trophies in his career, including seven league titles, five UEFA Champions Leagues, one UEFA European Championship, and one UEFA Nations League title.
One of the few recorded players to have made over 1,000 professional career appearances and has scored over 780 senior career goals for club and country, He is also the second male to score 100 international goals and the first European man to achieve the feat.
It is worthy of note that Ronaldo wasn’t always the most followed person on social media or the most successful sportsperson, he had his fair share of challenges growing up and here’s a few things that have accelerated his progress rate and how the aspiring entrepreneur can emulate this for success.
WORK ETHIC
Running a business requires a particular work ethic that knows and understands when it’s time for work. Work can be anything ranging from product development, crowdsourcing or it could be down to simply answering emails, whatever you have to do related to your business should and always be taken seriously. Cristiano Ronaldo was tested once, he was asked to score an up-through cross with the lights turned off. He scored the goal without seeing the ball and on close analysis, sports psychologists affirm this ability comes from hours of practice that has filled his mind with several permutations of the game for his mind to tap into. By simply watching the player cross the ball, he can anticipate where likely the ball will go through without seeing or thinking. Want to own that kind of acumen? Then you must be ready to put in the several hours dutifully.
DEDICATION TO IMPROVING
One thing everyone that has worked with Ronaldo has to say about him is his constant thirst for improvement notwithstanding the surrounding circumstances. This very quality dates back to his childhood in Madiera, he was always particular about going outside every day to play with his friends whilst being the best.
He was nicknamed ‘’cry baby’’ by his mates considering he would cry because he was the best amongst his street football equals and wanted to improve through greater competition. For this singular reason, his parents took him to a football academy where he continued to be the best among his mates and played a lot with seniors at such an early age. Writing of his “extraordinary commitment to physical preparation”, Adam Bate of Sky Sports adds, “Dedication is a huge part of staying at the top and Ronaldo’s focus is perhaps unparalleled within the game.”
FOCUS
…because you have to give 100% in everything that you do… – CR7
When he plays, his eyes are locked on the ball, and the movements of the hips and foot of the opponent. With all of this going on his subconscious, the ability to anticipate the next move of his attacker come naturally to him, in his mind, he knows he can pass ANYBODY if HE wants to.
Keeping your eyes on the goal is the best way to deal with distractions and critics. Cristiano Ronaldo mastered the art of completely shutting out the outside noise and this helped him cope with teammates and even his teacher mocking his strong Madeira accent in the early stages of his career, losing his dad, the shortage of finance in his family growing up, his racing heart syndrome and the problems with the fans in England. No fear of failure, no thoughts of what if I lose control, amazing composure and form has helped CR7 achieve success in his career, it could help you achieve more! Nothing beats a laser focus.
EDGE
What sets you apart from the rest?
Finding your edge and building your work around it is very important to excel in the business world. As an entrepreneur, playing in a very competitive environment just as or more competitive than a game of football, you can’t afford to be like everybody else. You must clearly set yourself apart and develop your competitive advantage. When asked what his edge is, the Juventus forward said his edge comes from being strong in every aspect of his skill, his speed, precision, height, shot power, and technique. What is your EDGE?
Cristiano is an essentialist and every entrepreneur should look at him for inspiration on grit. CR7 says; his drive and determination to succeed are fuelled by a desire to be talked about alongside Pelé and Diego Maradona once retiring. Find your drive, push limits and do whatever it takes in order to be successful and to reach the top.
