BY JOGINDER CHHABRA
Head - Marketing Intelligence & Consumer Insights, LG Electronics India
Hockey is one game that I am truly passionate about. The speed, skill and sheer intensity of the game makes me glued to every possible hockey match on the planet.
While you watch or play hockey or any other sports, it attracts maximum concentration and passion. These two collectively are a true symbol of excellence in every field. Excellence is a habit; that too an addictive one! What I love and admire more about hockey is not only the will, determination or the heart required to carry the day, but the speed of players and how fast things change in a matter of seconds.
The artistic Asian style of hockey, which requires refined individual abilities and skills, is more pleasing to watch rather than power hockey of the Europeans. Maybe it is a reality that the core lessons leading to success in business and in life can be found everywhere – including in the physical and exciting sport of hockey. It is highly important for a group to work at its optimum utility and efficiency. The quantity of effort has to be rightly balanced with quality. It’s said that hockey players are some of the most physically fit athletes out of any sport. The intensity, strength and endurance it takes to be a hockey player is truly tough. Work hard, take frequent breaks. It’s a great lesson we can all learn.
Celebrate every success. One of the things I really like about hockey is how after every single goal, the team bonds and celebrates. After every – single – goal. They have games to win and seasons to win but still they know that every single point gets them one step closer to their goal so they take the time to celebrate, to say great job and use their achievement to create momentum to get them closer to their goal. I think this can be used as an important business lesson.
Create your fans, since their cheering makes you win more and more! Hockey wouldn’t be nearly as exciting without the fans. The question is, what can you do to rally your clients? How can you create loyal, raving, supportive fans. It’s important to have a great team and be a team player. I love to see how hockey players support each other. Since hockey games have multiple roughing penalties, watching players come to the defence of their team-mates makes you realize how important it is to have a support network you can rely on. Not every game, every business, every situation is a team sport, but having a support network is vital to your success.
Never be complacent and your history and past does not affect your future. You are as good as your last assignment. A little complacency makes you lose a contract, very similar to the goals you may concede in hockey. Lastly, be ready to be roughed out but get up and brush yourself and be back at it with more zest and zeal.
With the Hockey World Cup scheduled in India in 2018 and India having larger pool of world class players led by Sardara Singh, and with both men’s and women’s hockey teams qualifying for the 2016 Olympics, Indian hockey has finally lots to look forward to and I hope more people are drawn to the game to enjoy and get inspired. As a marketer, I feel hockey should lead the emergence of non cricket sports in India in terms of high corporate patronage and revival of world class performance.
Can India win again in the coming Olympics and inspire millions? As legendary tennis player Billie Jean King once said, “Champions keep playing till they get it right.”
Feedback: joginder.chhabra77@gmail.com
