When I was in college, my school started a Rugby Team. We were a small liberal arts college, with no football team so they didn’t have those ex-footballer players. Most of us, myself included, had never plaied rugby, never saw a Rugby game and were about half the size of the players on the players on the teams we plaied.

While we were not a great team, we barely had enough players to make the field. I remember playing in one game where we had to borrow players from the other team in order to have enough people to play.

But Rugby did teach me a few things about business.

1. No matter how much you practice and how much you know, things are difficult sometimes. Even the best people have difficult times and sometimes don’t win, what makes them the best is they keep trying.

2. Being too confident if you are not careful will lead to you getting knocked down and kicked in the face.

3. Even though business is sometimes difficult and you are competitors, this doesn’t mean you can’t be friends. I remember seeing guys who were bloody from being tackled and steped on, hanging out with the other team after the game.

4. Even thought you are smaller and less experienced that doesn’t mean you can’t be competitive and even win.

5. Passion is more important than money. I remember seeing Rugby professionals barely getting paied enough gas money to make it to the game, but still comming to play. These guys had so much spirit and passion for the game.

6. Even though it hurts you have to keep going, there are no downs or real time outs. Rugby keeps going until you score, so does business