Inspired by Cricket...... the small margins of Winning and Losing


Well, who missed the huge amount of sporting action over the weekend…?

The tennis from Wimbledon, the British Grand Prix from Silverstone or the Cricket World Cup from Lords………….

A standard GP with Lewis Hamilton winning his record breaking 6th GP at Silverstone, Djokovic winning a hugely competitive Wimbledon for his 5th title and England winning their 1st World Cup after 3 previous semi-finals in what was probably one of the best finishes ever seen.

The cricket final as a game was not hugely entertaining but tension grew as the game went on and when it came to the final overs you just couldn’t have written it.

Just 4 years ago England were a shambles and didn’t even make it out of the Group stage.

So how did they turn it around….? 4 years of planning and a relentless pursuit of finding the winning formula. Taking big decisions to make the plan work, taking steps that others wouldn’t be prepared to take….. did you know Eoin Morgan gave up all forms of cricket to focus on the World Cup…!! Sacrifice and focus in the pursuit of success……

Anyway the business analogy I wanted to highlight is the margin between success and failure…… I mean what a performance from the Black Caps (New Zealand cricket team)!!

NZ were far from favourites to win but they pushed favourites England all the way and to be fair it was only England’s continued belief in their ability and skill (and some good fortune) that got them over the line.

But what fine margins….

  • 1 less wide would have won the game for  NZ

  • The commitment in the field from England that saved just 1 run….

  • Trent Boult catching Stokes on the boundary but touching the line (basically a few inches between winning a losing the World Cup).

  • The throw from Guptil that hit Stokes and deflected for 4 overthrows


Winning and losing is separated by the smallest margins and the same in business.

  • Doi stuff you don’t like doing rather than leaving it “for another day”

  • When you Can’t be Arsed….. make sure you CAN BE ARSED

  • Make the call rather than NOT make the call

  • Hand deliver the Quote rather than emailing the quote (particularly important ones).

  • Make sure your phone is answered rather than go to answerphone

  • Updating your Website (recent jobs) rather than not


So much of our fate is in our own hands and having a relentless passion to succeed is key in business – push boundaries, have belief and never give up!!!!!

But also remember FAILURE is all part of success.

No one has ever succeeded without tasting failure in some shape or form…. and I mean no-one!! If anyone denies this then they are lying (or not trying hard enough😊).

FAILURE is never fatal as long as you Learn. By learning – and we all have a lot to learn (it never stops) – we move forward in a stronger position. It is a bit raw from the New Zealand Team right now but they will learn and be stronger from the experience.

England did that 4 years ago……. WOW, they just won the World Cup.

So What’s Your World Cup….?


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