The Power In Backing Yourself and Your Team
Why everyone should go and see the movie 'AIR'
As I sat down to finalise this week's blog, I realised it could wait another week because I want to tell you about the movie 'AIR' – the story of how Nike unexpectedly landed Michael Jordan and forever changed the sporting sponsorship landscape.
I saw this movie last night and it's been playing in my head ever since.
I love true stories and I thought I was going to see a great sporting story about a legend in basketball. And because I draw inspiration from sport to help growing small businesses, of course I was going to see this movie.
But boy I got so much more.
Yes this is a sporting story but it's actually a business story because it's about how Nike, with everything against them, landed Michael Jordan on their account.
So I'm hoping everyone will take my recommendation and go and see this movie.
If you're a small business owner, it will inspire you and help you remember why you started your business in the first place.
For everyone else, it will inspire you and remind you about why you do they work or job you love, or why you got into a particular industry in the first place.
And for those of you who are parents, it will remind you, in those possibly trying times, as to why you support and believe in your children in the way you do.
I promise I won't give away the story in this blog – I just want everyone to book their ticket and take time out to go to the cinema and see this absolutely brilliant movie.
An added bonus is it happened in 1984 so if you're an 80s fan like me, you'll love the soundtrack along with all the references and memorabilia.
FOCUS: THE BUSINESS OF SPORT
From the dream team who brought us Good Will Hunting, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have once again delivered a brilliant movie and cast.
AIR reveals the unbelievable game changing partnership between a then rookie Michael Jordan and Nike's fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture within the Air Jordan brand.
This moving story follows the career defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of a mother who knows the worth of her son's immense talent, and the basketball phenomenon who would become the greatest of all time.
Here's the
trailer to give you a glimpse of what you're going to get.
What did I love about this movie?
Everything which is premised around this one line:
A shoe is only a shoe until my son steps into it
There's so much to unpack in this movie but as I don't want to give away too much, here's my snapshot insights about what it's about:
• Remembering why the Nike owner (Phil Knight) set up the business in the first place – the passion, energy and never say die attitude.
• The value of awesome people in your team who are willing to go above and beyond when they know they're on to something brilliant.
• Nike shows us they were disrupting their industry sector long before Amazon and Uber.
• The power of conviction, belief and backing yourself, your team and your family.
• Understanding what your talent and skill is truly worth – and this is not only Michael Jordan, it's the team at Nike.
• Why businesses have to shake things up and 'bend the rules' sometimes to get ahead.
• Why seeing things others don't can often be a hard sell.
• The delicate balance of risk versus reward.
• Why it's important to know what you need to do when you need to 'think things through' – in the case of Nike's owner, it was running.
• Understanding your competitors – how they think and act, and what's happening in their business right now.
• Truly understanding your marketplace and what's important to them.
• Recognising the right 'decision maker' in any working relationship.
• Why Making A Difference should drive everything we do – in business and in life.
• Why someone's brand is more than their job or talent, and why you have to protect it at all costs.
• How single minded focus can reap unbelievable benefits.
• When to stop talking and just listen.
• When to deviate from the plan or marketing strategy and instead, just talk passionately to your customer about why they should buy your product or come to your organisation.
I'm sure you'd agree - great lessons for all of us whether you own the business or are a valuable employee; as well as lessons on how to live with integrity and purpose.
Throughout the movie, you'll also see references to the 10 Principles of Nike which play an important role in the actions and decisions made by all involved.
The 10 Principles of Nike
1. Our business is Change.
2. We're on offense. All the time.
3. Perfect results count – not a perfect process. Break the rules – fight the law.
4. This is as much about battle as about business.
5. Assume nothing. Make sure people keep their promises. Push yourselves, push others. Stretch the possible.
6. Live off the land.
7. Your job isn't done until the job is done.
8. Dangers. Bureaucracy. Personal Ambition. Energy takers vs energy givers. Knowing our weaknesses. Don't get too many things on the platter.
9. It won't be pretty.
10. If we do the right things, we'll make money damn near automatic.
So which ones resonate with you?
Do you have something similar in your small business, and if you don't, do you think you should?
I personally would challenge the word 'perfect' because I don't believe it exists but I can appreciate the intention behind the philosophy.
And here's my final thought:
So many lines and moments resonated with me from this movie but the one that has hit home for me is this one:
What I do isn't written in a resume
And the reason is this line sums me up to a tee.
I have this gift to see things others don't – problems and possibilities – in their business, with their people and in their systems.
But sometimes, it's very hard to market this innate talent because once I've helped someone, I ask them what I did and they always tell me, 'I don't know but it was great. I feel so much better after talking to you. I now know what to do.'
And we've all got some innate quality, ability or talent which can't be expressed in a resume – but it's this intangible which enables us to succeed.
So what do you do which isn't written in a resume?
And what do each of your team do which isn't written in their resume?
Because if you can somehow articulate this or show it to others – maybe in a video or some other medium, it will take you and your small business to the next level.
Now please book your ticket to this movie 😊 and let me know what you think.
Cheers
Tamara
P.S And don't forget to book your
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