Lionel Messi came into the limelight in 2005. It was during the Fifa World Youth Championship finals, and he played for Argentina against Nigeria.
The Nigerian team was great in the tournament, and I was expecting them to win the World Cup. Nobody expected to see a mysterious young boy turn the game around singlehandedly that day. He had such a magical control of the ball that you would think that the football was a part of his feet.
Lionel Messi did a lot of magic on the field that day, and my Nigerian home lost to the Argentinean side. They did their best, but the magician was always two or three steps ahead. After watching him play for a little over ten years of my life, I have been able to put together these four invaluable lessons below, which I believe are the secrets that can make every entrepreneur an outstanding success.
Here are 4 invaluable lessons you can learn form Lionel Messi:
1. Train until your potential becomes high asset skills
Potential is everything you can be that you are not. It is everything you have the ability to do, that you are not doing. Too bad, but nobody will pay you for your potential. You can’t put a price tag on it. What you get paid for is your skill. I once watched a video of one of Messi’s training sessions. He tied heavy weights to himself and attempted to run with them. This obviously made him run faster than most players when he is on the field.
His speed, shooting, dribbling and passes are incredible. But behind all that, is a secret of intense training. He has great potential and talents, but he didn’t rest on his oars. He trained his socks off until those potentials became invaluable skills.
What you should do
Do not relax because you have certain talents. Those talents can prove to be valuable to your career. But until you train yourself to the point where your talents become high asset skills, you cannot be the ‘Messi’ of your career. The trainings you go through serves as the fire that will refine those talents and bring out the gold in you.
2. Set a high record then beat it
Messi is not just remarkable for his dribbling skills, but equally for his ability to net the ball. I can bet that when Barcelona brought Messi on board, his job description did not include scoring over 60 goals in a single season. However, he set that target for himself, and was able to beat it.
Over the years, he has won multiple awards and accomplished so much in his football career. But the most admirable thing about him is that once he accomplishes a feat, he aims higher. Setting a new record or breaking one doesn’t stop him from pushing to set higher records.
What you should do
It is not enough to be the best. You must continually strive to be better in what you do. To succeed like Messi does, you can’t afford to be satisfied with your past achievement. Stop competing with anybody but yourself. Remember that progress is continuous, and success is never ending.
3. Be the jack of one trade and master of one
Messi is known for only one thing in the world today, football. He is not a musician who studied Engineering and is trying his hands on professional football while he interns for a construction company close to his fashion designing business.
He doesn’t play football on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and then manages his real estate company between Friday and Monday. He is not divided among many interests that spread him thin. He is a footballer who plays football.
What you should do
Try to be the best in one thing. Think of Henry Ford, and Michael Jackson. These people are known for one thing alone, and that is why they became the success they were. Having multiple streams of income is great, but you have to be a master in one thing.
The popular advice is not to put all of one’s eggs in one basket. But to succeed like Messi, the practical advice is to put your eggs in one basket and then jealously guard that basket as if your life depends on it, because it does. You can still be an architect and a web designer (which are obviously related). But make sure that you are known for one major thing.
4. Be the best you can ever be
One thrilling thing about watching Messi’s games is that you can never be bored. There is something electric about his style of play. From his masterful ball possession, his breathtaking dribbles, to his incontestable goal scoring skills, Messi always keeps his viewers and fans on the edge as he plays.
He understands that there is no second chance for him to be his best, so he maximizes all his chances. He doesn’t wait for a better opportunity or a greater audience to watch before he brings out his best.
What you should do
Don’t wait for better chances. Do not wait for bigger opportunities. Be the best you can all the times you can as much as you can. Remember that there are no second chances for first impressions. The only time you have to be the best you can be is now.
If you have the opportunity to solve a problem, design a program, write a proposal or represent your organization, do it as if it is the best you will ever have.
