Total Pageviews

Sunday, October 12, 2025

Business Principles and Basketball

Learn across domains. There is theory and practice. Entrepreneur Mark McCormack stakes out a pragmatic, results-oriented approach.

Again, let's borrow from ChatGPT (in blue):

Mark McCormack’s What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School offers street-smart lessons based on his experience founding and running IMG (International Management Group), one of the first sports marketing firms. The book focuses less on theory and more on practical, people-centered business skills. Here are five top points from the book:

1. The Importance of People Skills

McCormack argues that success in business is far more about understanding people than understanding numbers.

He emphasizes listening, reading body language, and developing the ability to size up people quickly. These interpersonal skills often determine the outcome of deals, partnerships, and leadership dynamics. He stresses that emotional intelligence and intuition are indispensable.

Basketball: Coaching is a relationship business. Coaches must instill culture, develop trust, and add value for players. "Task-oriented coaches" (hard guys) can impact results for awhile, but most end up wearing players out. Successful programs (think Popovich's Spurs, Spoelstra's Heat) are highly collaborative, driven by culture. 

2. Observation Is a Superpower

“The best way to influence people is often to listen to them.”

McCormack emphasizes being observant in meetings, negotiations, and social settings. Noticing how people react, what they don’t say, and small behavioral cues can give you a significant edge. He sees this as a practical, learnable skill that too many people overlook in favor of talking or presenting.

Basketball: Listening is a skill. The ability to 'read the room' and to understand the emotional temperature of teams separates leaders from managers. Some of us are lucky enough to have people in our lives available to say, "how can I help?" Coaches should work to understand what does our team need now? 

3. The Real Deal Happens Before the Deal

The groundwork you lay—relationships, trust, and timing—matters more than the paperwork.

Much of McCormack's advice centers on mastering the "preliminaries"—the informal, relationship-building interactions that precede a formal business transaction. Knowing how and when to approach people, and understanding their interests and incentives, shapes outcomes long before contracts are signed.

Basketball: The basketball community was in shambles in our town when a new coach was named in the summer of 1970. One of the first group  interventions he made was rehabbing and painting an outdoor basketball court. He installed a sign reading, "TECH TOURNEY 1973." That was postseason basketball in Massachusetts requiring 70 percent wins or a second place finish. The 1971 season brought three wins, 1972 eight wins, and in 1973 a 21-4 record and Sectional Championship. Repairing a court was the first infrastructure change; attitudes came next. 

4. Don’t Mistake Intelligence for Effectiveness

Graduating from a top school doesn’t guarantee good business instincts.

McCormack critiques the over-reliance on academic credentials. He believes that many business schools don’t prepare students for the ambiguous, fluid, and interpersonal nature of actual business decisions. Street smarts, adaptability, and common sense often outweigh IQ and pedigree.

Basketball - Basketball IQ gets earned the hard way - playing a lot, studying great teams, coaches, and players. While it's true, "there is no ability without eligibility," more initials after your name don't substitute for basketball "street smarts." Finding a mentor can help. 

5. Be Prepared—and Then Be More Prepared

McCormack was a firm believer in rigorous preparation before any meeting, negotiation, or event.

He advocates over-preparing—not just knowing your material, but anticipating the other side’s goals, resistance points, and style. This allows you to stay flexible and confident, no matter how the interaction unfolds. 

Basketball: Coach Wooden preached, "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." With young players, as young as middle school, teach and encourage professionalism. 

  • Take care of business at home and in school. 
  • Be on time. 
  • Be in charge of your supplies - hydration, medical needs, extra socks, shoelaces, personal products. 
  • Be stretched out, ready to go when practice starts.
  • Be mentally ready, focusing on doing your job, attending to details.
  • Choose to be unselfish, a good teammate.
  • Become more by doing more. 
  • Become a leader by example. 
Closing Thoughts

Earn your paycheck by through focus, hard work, attention to detail and a commitment to professionalism, regardless of your level. 

Lagniappe. Downscreen DHO, into an elevator/sandwich screen. Note how the cutter goes "slow to fast." 

Lagniappe 2. Create separation with change of pace. 

 

Posted by at