Today, I strive to put quality first at whatever I do. And there’s no room for automated half-brain robotic behavior. If we’re preparing a proposal, it has to be the smartest one yet, with every detail planned out. If we’re putting up a new case study on our web, we never spare time and effort to polish out each tiny detail. If I’m writing that important mail, I’ll have at least one additional pair of eyes review it before I click send, and continue reading and rephrasing it for as long as it takes. If we’re organizing a simple team meeting, I need to prepare to focus my message. Even if it’s a friendly game, or a training match, there’s no room for slacking or someone else will take your place next time.

In my past life before entrepreneurship, it used to be easy for me just to do my job, look the other way, and simply aim for that checkmark “Done” at the end. And it’s not at all about that. Now I want to put in those extra hours and do everything the best possible way.

The worst feeling I know is the one after losing a match thinking why didn’t I swim faster for that ball in the third quarter, why didn’t I wait and open up a better chance for my skip shot at the last minute of the game, and why didn’t I pass that ball at the right second in the first quarter. It’s those regrets that kill me, knowing I gave my 90%, and failed.

And that’s become my mantra at work — never stop at 90%, as often 99% aren’t enough.

4. Learn to work with others.

Sometimes you get to play with an A team, but sometimes you’re stuck with a B player. Maybe just for a week, maybe for a month, but in the meantime, you need to work it out and put him to good use.

Business is a team sport, and you need to be a team player. Think what is the right position for that person. Maybe he would be good playing on the wing as a fast swimmer, or maybe he has a secret talent for defending the hole set, even if he is a lousy shot.

Talk to him and focus him on that single most important role he has. For example, press hard the attacker and do not allow a single shot from the wing. And simply forget about the attacks and scoring goals.

The point is, at the time being, you need that person on the team. No one better showed up for the match or practice, maybe everyone else was dead tired and wanted a substitution, or as in the business world, you weren’t too successful in hiring or replacing people. So what should you do? Focus them on the single most important task, and build their confidence. Focus them on the defense, and make sure they get their job done.

At the same time, you might be lucky to have a big strong lefty on the team. You might do the obvious, and have him play on the wing or as right flat. However, why not experiment with him being a hole set — with his left hand he might be hard to defend and require the hole guard to rethink his moves.

The point is, finding a right position for a team member requires thinking. And it often requires moving him to a position he didn’t plan on having. Before kicking the worst shooter off the team, maybe you have an awesome hole guard at hand.

5. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.

One week you’re the team star, scoring that winning goal in the last seconds, and the next week you might be that guy who took four shots in the row, missed all of them, and never took the opportunity to pass to a better positioned player. Maybe you didn’t get enough sleep, maybe you were stressed, maybe you had a better defender solely focused on you, Mr. Last-week Team-star.

And you always need to improve your game and be better. Listen to advices from the better players. Ask your goalie what he saw and what you did wrong, he might have the best view on the game, player positioning and level of play (talking about 360 review?).

Leave the ego out and do your part. Even as CEO, I’m a member of a team with a specific set of responsibilities, and my ultimate goal is for my team to win.

At the very moment, you start to want the first place on the league scorers list. You’re done — you’ll be making wrong decisions, avoiding passes, forcing too many shots, avoiding to step out, be substituted for a minute and get your breath back. As soon as I stop putting my team first, and start enjoying making decision and ruling over other people, focus too much on giving interviews and PR, even having other business ideas than my company, I’m done, game over for me, and we all lose.

Photo by: Saša Prižmić

And one more thing — accept criticism

I’m always prepared for the criticism. I want to be better, and I’m not afraid to talk to smarter folks, and get a mentor. There are always better players who you could learn with, so surround yourself with those people. And finally, win, and lose, with grace. That’s a thing you learn as a kid in team sports, and such an important and ignored behaviour in business.

Thank you for reading. If you like the article, please click the little empty ❤ below and make it red — it would really mean a lot to me. :)