What can the NCAA Final Four teach us about passion?

Dribble, dribble, swish the basketball through the nets for another two points and your team moves on to another victory. After watching all eight National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) teams compete for a prized spot in the NCAA Final Four, I was amazed at the passion of each team.

Lesson number one is the amount of passion each team showed in support of their alma mater. Passion was everywhere, in fact the basketball players were passionate, the coaches and the fans.

The athletes were motivated to win their school’s grand prize for a chance to play in the big dance, the final game. Winning teams were more motivated than losing tams, even if the game was won by a basket, they did one thing better than their opponent and it paid off.

As you watch the NCAA Final Four next weekend, think about the role that passion, motivation, inspiration and commitment play in the game. Also, think about the role passion, motivation, inspiration, and engagement play in your job or business, it’s no different.

Motivation has its place in life just as it does in a game of basketball and that is why there are lessons to be learned from the NCAA tournament. If you are motivated it can take you further in life than if you are not motivated.

For example, you might be motivated to get promoted to a job that pays more salary or leads to a managerial position. Likewise, you could be motivated to become an entrepreneur and lead your own business.

Inspiration also plays an important role in the success of athletes. Some of the basketball players are likely to play in the National Basketball Association.

Big paydays are coming if NCAA basketball players are drafted and make the roster for an NBA team. You don’t have to be a basketball player to be successful in life, just do what you do and be the best at it and in time you will be rewarded.

The four teams that made it to the final four include: North Carolina, Michigan State, Villanova and Connecticut. These four teams are committed to bringing the college championship home to their respective schools.

Commitment comes in the form of doing the hard work, practice, practice, practice. Commitment also comes in the form of achieving the required academic standards as outlined by the university.

You also have a commitment to deliver the products, whether it’s to make more sales or provide better customer service. You owe it to your company to be committed to the vision set forth by the leadership.

The lessons learned from watching a basketball game reflect that the number one attribute to becoming a winner in life is passion. Watch the NCAA Final Four game to enjoy, but also to learn, the lessons are invaluable.