I love the World Cup. Besides being a month-long celebration of the world’s most popular sport, it’s always great to watch any sport being contested at the highest levels (as an aside, this is also my favorite sports week since the U.S. Open happens on one of my favorite golf courses but more about that later in the week).
What’s really intriguing, especially for the millions of Americans who don’t watch soccer on a regular basis, is how you can really tell the different teams by their styles. In fact, if there is anything really noticeable about the US team, aside from how good we’ve become, it is that I don’t think we have a real distinctive style which, in itself is our style. In a way, that totally makes sense. After all, we are a nation of immigrants playing a game invented elsewhere and we’re amalgamating the styles from all those nations. But there are some business lessons here as well.
The Brazilians are typically one of the top 3 teams in the worlds. They are renowned for playing a highly-technical, flowing game they call “beautiful football.” In fact, the team is often criticized by their fans not for losing which they almost never do, but for not winning “beautifully.” The US doesn’t have Brazil’s technique but we do have highly skilled players. The Germans play a smart, disciplined game. We don’t (OK – maybe smart sometimes but disciplined?). The French play a creative game using a high degree of field awareness (you can’t believe their guys see openings and make some of the passes they do)., The English? Speed and aggression. The Dutch? Textbook passing in a slow build up to an attack.
So Americans tried to be Brazilian and learned to juggle. We tried to be English and got physical. We tried to possess like the Germans. But ultimately when we became good was when we quit trying to imitate and play in the hybrid style that characterizes our team.
That’s the business lesson. First, you need to find a style that works for you and your business. You’ll probably draw on pieces of what others do, maybe even competitors. But unless and until you find your style and play to it, you’ll struggle both for an identity and success.
Are you watching the World Cup? Who are you rooting for (bedsides the US, of course!)?
Consult Keith 