20 Surprising Similarities Between Athletes and Entrepreneurs

1. Delayed gratification
Athletes put in countless hours of training before competing at the highest level. Entrepreneurs must also be willing to work hard without expecting immediate rewards. Building a business requires hard work and patience.

2. Diversified skill sets
Every sports team has diverse skills. Players play different roles. Entrepreneurs end up picking up multiple skills. If not, allow others with complementary skills to “own” the tasks they are better suited for.

3. Attention to tactful detail
Every serious and well-trained athlete can tell you exactly how many minutes they have worked out. Like professional sports teams, a company’s fitness must be evaluated frequently.

4. Celebrating accomplishments
When a baseball player hits a home run, their team is already standing on the field, ready to cheer them home. Entrepreneurs cheer their team when an associate hits a sales target or wins a new client.

5. Resilience
Athletes and entrepreneurs both face setbacks and failures. Resilience is the ability to bounce back and keep going, even in the face of adversity. Athletes develop resilience through training and competition, while entrepreneurs build resilience by facing and overcoming challenges in their business ventures. Resilience helps both athletes and entrepreneurs stay focused on their goals, persevere through tough times, and ultimately achieve success.

6. High risk, high reward
Both athletes and entrepreneurs understand that there is a high risk of failure, but they are willing to take that risk in pursuit of their goals. They understand that the potential rewards are worth the risk.

7. Endurance
Athletes and entrepreneurs both need to have high levels of endurance to succeed. They need to be able to persevere through challenges and setbacks, and they need to be able to sustain their efforts over the long term.

8. Mental toughness
Both athletes and entrepreneurs need to have strong mental toughness to succeed. They need to be able to stay focused and motivated in the face of adversity, and they need to be able to bounce back from setbacks quickly.

9. Goal-setting
Athletes and entrepreneurs both understand the importance of setting goals. They set specific, measurable, and achievable goals for themselves and their teams, and they use those goals as a roadmap to success.

10. Time management
Athletes and entrepreneurs both need to be excellent at time management. They need to be able to balance multiple priorities, and they need to be able to use their time effectively to achieve their goals.

11. Teamwork
Both athletes and entrepreneurs understand the importance of teamwork. They know that success is rarely achieved alone, and they work closely with others to achieve their goals.

12. Perseverance
Athletes and entrepreneurs both need to be able to persevere through tough times. They need to be able to keep going when things get difficult, and they need to be able to stay focused on their goals even when progress is slow.

13. Adaptability
Athletes and entrepreneurs both need to be able to adapt to changing circumstances. They need to be able to pivot quickly when things don't go as planned, and they need to be able to adjust their strategies as needed to stay on track.

14. Innovation
Athletes and entrepreneurs both need to be innovative to succeed. They need to be able to come up with new ideas and solutions, and they need to be able to think outside the box to stay ahead of the competition.

15. Passion
Athletes and entrepreneurs both need to be passionate about what they do. They need to love their work and be willing to put in the hard work and sacrifice necessary to succeed.

16. Adaptability
Athletes and entrepreneurs both face unexpected challenges and must adapt to changing circumstances. A flexible and adaptable mindset is key to success in both fields.

17. Perseverance
Athletes and entrepreneurs must be able to push through obstacles and setbacks. A strong sense of perseverance is necessary to achieve long-term success.

18. Focus
Athletes and entrepreneurs must be able to maintain focus on their goals, even in the face of distractions. The ability to concentrate and stay on task is essential to achieving success.

19. Continuous Improvement
 Athletes and entrepreneurs are always striving to improve and get better. A commitment to continuous learning and development are key to achieving success over the long-term.    
20. Competitive nature
Both athletes and entrepreneurs have a competitive drive that pushes them to be the best. Athletes compete to win championships, while entrepreneurs compete to create the best products and services in their industry. This competitive nature can fuel their ambition and drive them to work harder and smarter to achieve their goals.

Athletes and entrepreneurs share another crucial trait: a growth mindset. Athletes are trained to push their limits and consistently improve, while entrepreneurs are constantly seeking new challenges and opportunities for growth. Both groups recognise the importance of embracing failure as a necessary step towards success. Instead of giving up after a setback, they use it as a learning opportunity to improve and grow. A growth mindset allows athletes and entrepreneurs to stay motivated and focused on their goals, even when faced with adversity. They are willing to put in the hard work and effort necessary to achieve their objectives, and are constantly seeking out new ways to improve and innovate.

At Creo Incubator, we believe that an entrepreneurial mindset is essential for any athlete or entrepreneur looking to start or grow their business. Our entrepreneurship courses and skills courses are designed to help entrepreneurs develop a growth mindset, build the skills they need to succeed, and stay motivated and focused on their goals.