Improve your business and your boxing – Top 10 tips

Confession time, I have a mistress; a place where I go most evenings and indulge in an activity that is considered unsavoury by some parties. A place where I go to fulfil a passion of mine that has existed for most of my life! Why do I do this, why do I enjoy it so much, why don't I stay faithful to my marketing roots? Why do I seek satisfaction in other areas?

Because my vice complements my professional life very well.

Forgive the dramatic start, however this is a blog and I want you to read it, so it’s important to start strong. Let’s add some more layers to the story; I'm a Product Manager by day and a Boxing Coach by night. On the face of it I live two very different lives; however there is more crossover than you may think.

To help you grow your business and improve your boxing prowess, here are my Top 10 tips.

1. Get the fundamentals right. In boxing this is about the right stance, guard & technique. In business this is about making sure your products are simple, meet the customer needs and the experience adds value to the business and the customer. Focus on the fundamentals and build from a position of strength.

2. Be clear on your goals. What are you doing here, what do you want to achieve? What do you want to be known for? In both business & boxing having goals is critical, they can be small and steady goals or they can be big scary goals. The message here is to give yourself something that lights a fire and ignites your passion to excel.

3. Create a strong team. In boxing you need the right coaches, team mates, mentors etc. The same applies in business. Coaching is a seriously under-developed skill in the corporate world; take some time to seek out the right people that can help you achieve your goals.

4. Practice, practice, practice and then practice some more. We've all been there. We think we’re at the top of the game, we know everything and then something happens that brings us crashing down. In boxing this can be brutal; in business the result can be a bruised ego and damaged confidence. So practice your specialism as much as possible. When you think you have it nailed, practice some more.

5. Be aggressive. No matter what your goals, strategy, KPI's etc. - pursue them in an aggressive manner. Not aggression at the expense of collaboration and in a manner that is sensible and measured. In business, controlled and measured aggression can be a useful tool to chase after your target. In boxing you want to be aggressive - but not at the expense of exposing yourself. Take some time to plan your aggressive bursts to get the most benefit. One of my favourite fighters – Ricky Hatton was a master at smart aggression, over time he developed the skill to recognise the perfect time to turn the dial up.

6. Seek advice from all corners. Seek advice from all corners and keep an open mind about learning no matter how great you become. Acknowledge that feedback is a gift, and focus on the areas that deliver you to your goals. Be honest with your self-analysis, don’t be too harsh on yourself and likewise don't go over the top with praise. Be humble, stay hungry and drive improvement. Anthony Joshua is a great example of this. He stands at the top of the boxing world at the moment, yet you will always hear him talk about consulting his coaches, learning and improving.

7. Be proud of your strengths. We’re all individual’s and bring different strengths to the party. In boxing, we seek to accentuate the positives. If you have a naturally strong jab then we’d build around that rather than change it. In business, if you have creative talents then allow them to flourish, if you have introverts, give them the time to consider and reflect. Look at each individual and create an environment that allows these strengths to flourish.

8. Develop the weaknesses that will make a difference. No matter how good you get, how experienced you become and how many goals you smash, there is always room for improvement. Use your inner circle and team to understand areas of improvement. Focus on the ones that will make a difference and compliment your existing strengths. Link back to your goals and focus your energy on the areas that will really make a difference.

9. Create a coaching mind-set. "Managing is something you do to someone - Coaching is something you do with someone" I love this quote by Martin Rooney; it sums up the essence of coaching simply. Take some time and assess if you’re being managed or coached to help you achieve your goals. Take time to reflect on what works for you. In boxing, my role is a facilitator to help you achieve your goals, in marketing my role is to deliver great products and experiences that customers want. Both roles are about continuous assessment and adjustment to meet these objectives.

10. Test yourself and learn. The uncomfortable part! How do you test all of this then? In boxing, this may be about competing or completing a hard session. In business, this may be about presenting to the Executive team or talking directly to customers about how you can help them. Be open to putting yourself in uncomfortable situations, knowing that you have a solid foundation of skills, have an open mind to improve and know there’s a fantastic team around you to help and support.

On the face of it, boxing and business are very different areas that seem worlds apart. However, they complement each other extremely well and there are valuable insights and opportunities for us all to learn from. They both share common grounds in being the best you can be, always looking to improve, always learning and evolving.

As the Greatest – Muhammad Ali said…

“Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”

Get in touch @ www.ikano.co.uk/retail-finance/contact-us

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