What Entrepreneurs Can Learn from College Football
- Shannon Wilburn
Shannon Wilburn is the CEO & Co-founder of Just Between Friends Franchise Systems, Inc. (JBF), North America’s leading children’s & maternity consignment event. JBF has 150 franchises in 28 states and Canada. JBF is actively seeking franchisees throughout North America. Click here to learn more. How to “Hail Mary” Your Approach to Business – By Jenn Lee
I love college football! These young men leave it all on the field every Saturday; championing pride for their school, showcasing a talent they have been perfecting for most of their lives, and of course, their insatiable will to win inspires us all. On November 7, 2015, while waiting impatiently for my Crimson Tide to take the field for an 8:00pm night rumble with LSU, hubby and I caught the end of the Arkansas-Ole Miss game. Tied 45-45 at the end of regulation play; the game was forced into heart-stopping overtime play. Ole Miss scored right away, leaving Arkansas with only one option: Score a touchdown or go home with another loss for the season. With everything NOT going their way, it was 4th and 25. The Razorbacks’ were 25 long yards away from continuing their fight. The odds weren’t on their side. Even the Ole Miss fans were celebrating their “win” in the stands. Ball is snapped, thrown down the field about 10 yards and caught by #84 Henry. With no field in front of him to gain the first down, he throws the ball haphazardly in the air and behind him (sort-of like a reverse Hail Mary). Ball is bobbled and miraculously picked up by another Razorback player who weaves himself across and down the field to the 13 yard line for a clear first down! Not pretty at all. And really, there’s no way to practice something like this. But he went for it and it worked! A few plays later Arkansas scores! It’s now 52-51. Out of my seat with excitement (I love a good comeback play!); I question my husband as to whether he thinks they’ll go for a two point conversion. His patronizing response was delivered as if he were patting me on the head like an innocent 7 year old little girl, who has no chance of understanding the big boy game of football, “They’ll clearly go for the easy extra point, forcing double overtime. No one chances things like this. It’s the smart thing to do.” But clearly, that’s not how Razorbacks’ Head Coach Bielema thinks. Turning to his coaching staff and team, I imagine he said something like, “Let’s end this thing. Screw the extra point. Let’s go for two. We can win this game right now!” YES! Razorbacks go for two and WIN the game. Don’t look at me like an innocent little girl, who knows nothing about #football! Why do the expected when you have an opportunity to WIN…Right now! I see this all the time in my travels. Business owners who go for it and buck convention and blindly throw themselves and their ideas out there – taking wild chances – tend to be the ones who somehow gain the yardage needed to drive their business down the field and WIN! Many call it luck. I call it guts! Be gutsy – go for the WIN! Stop being the entrepreneur who does the expected. Look for the non-conventional approach. Here’s an example: If you have a passion for fashion, head over to Project Runway and apply to be on the show. That’s what Season 14 contestant Ashley Tipton did. Spoiler alert! She won. The exposure Ashley received will put her on the fast track to success. If you’re faced with what seems your last option – GO BIG. ”Hail Mary” Your Business and Get Results’. Stop fumbling around in your business! If your business or marketing strategy isn’t working, create one that will work. If you need to release employees that aren’t making the cut, do it. Find others who want to play on your team and will help you move forward. The fate of your business is in your hands. What are you going to do about it? Will you sit on the sidelines? Or will you suit up and rush onto the business field and make a gutsy move? One that may increase sales by 57% in quarter one or push the bottom line toward $10 million dollars. Go ahead. Put your game face on, suit up, and step onto the business field. Contact me for small business strategy consulting. Let’s work together, so you can score big in business and life and secure your place in the small business winner’s circle today. Ready. Let’s win together! 
Coach Jenn Lee is a small biz strategist, marketing consultant and rockin’ high energy motivational speaker, and the founder of The Work Creative. Obsessed with small business owners and corporations who “get it” Jenn leverages her 25 years corporate sales and marketing experience to speak to small business owners, sales teams and companies across the nation. Her spot-on advice has made her a regular contributor on Orlando’s FOX News, and FOX Business Network, and is often featured in entrepreneurial podcasts and quoted in national magazines . Follow along at @coachjennlee