Personal Record vs Team Performance
I was fortunate today that I was there to witness Brisbane Bullets Import James Bateman set a new NBL personal scoring record of 51 points. Happily, it came with a Win for the Bullets team vs Perth Wildcats, but it got me thinking how terrible it would have felt if his personal achievement had of been as part of an overall team loss?!
Your Revenue (Score) vs Opposition (Costs)
Bullets scoring 105 points is great but not if the opponents had of scored 106! (they didn’t, they only got 84) but you get the point. In business, your ‘score’ could easily be compared to the revenue generated and your costs compared to the opposition score I.e. it’s no good if your costs ‘outscore’ your revenue!
Bad Habits Often Developed in Good Times
As a long term Coach of Junior Basketball myself, I often drill my young players on the benefits of keeping the opposition score down to take the pressure off our need to score so much. All offence and no defence games might be entertaining short term but nearly always develop bad habits (kind of like what happens in business when times are going great and people lose sight of rising costs that get out of control).
What Wins Championships?
Not tracking or proactively managing your costs can be just as lethal in business. There’s an old saying that offence wins awards but defence wins championships.
What to do Next?
What are you doing about minimising your costs so your revenue can win you more games and you take out the Championship Trophy this and every year?
(congrats again to James on an exceptional personal achievement and the Bullets team for facilitating it)
