Sports can be used as a metaphor for both life and business. It inspires us, keeps us on our toes, and helps us recognise the small elements that contribute to our success. It exemplifies grit, commitment, and sportsmanship in action. The spirit of sportsmen who have dedicated themselves to attaining greatness is honoured by QNET. QNET and sports have many shared similarities. QNET and sports also have many similarities when it comes to traits of leaders and successful people.
The commonalities between QNET and sports bind them together. Individuals in both areas have a chance to achieve and are empowered to be the best version of themselves. Another thing that both QNET and sports have in common is the emphasis on values and principles. Great values have played a critical role in the success of these athletes.
We’ll pay tribute to some of the world’s top athletes in this post. We’ll also hear about the ideals and ideas that QNET business owners may take away from these sportsmen and apply to their own enterprises.
Sportsmen and QNET Entrepreneurs have a lot in common
Athletes and direct sellers have a lot in common. Both professionals are involved in skill-based activities. In athletics, one does not just get lucky or attain long-term success with a stroke of luck. An athlete would have to put in a lot of effort to hone a skill and apply it in a game. Direct selling follows the same principle. To be successful at direct selling, people must put in a lot of time and effort. They also need to improve their craft so that they may expand their business.
Another component that is comparable is the perseverance that is required to achieve. A sportsperson must be patient and persistent in order to win a game. This is despite the fact that they have put in the necessary time and effort to develop their craft. Athletes may not perform to their full potential owing to unforeseen circumstances. Perhaps the opponent was in excellent shape, or perhaps the playing conditions were unsuitable for the athlete. A variety of variables can make it difficult for athletes to perform at their best.
Direct sellers are subject to the same restrictions. They may not always be able to persuade clients to purchase a product. When a prospect agrees to join the team, he or she may weep. A direct seller’s inability to sell might be due to a variety of factors. They will almost certainly obtain higher results if they persevere and put in consistent effort.
Direct sellers, on the other hand, must accept that both success and failure are a part of the game. There will be times when the direct seller feels stuck or like they have a slim chance of succeeding. They can, however, take inspiration from successful athletes who, despite losses or poor results, continue to move on. Let’s take a look at some of the most successful athletes and how they overcame obstacles along the way.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Real Madrid. Along with Lionel Messi, he has been the most successful footballer in terms of performances and awards. The two footballers have unquestionably been the best in the world in recent years. They have famously shared the Ballon d’Or (Best Footballer of the Year Award) for the past ten years in a row.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, has been given the benefit of the doubt, considering the Portuguese superstar is the top goal scorer in international football and has had greater success with the national team. “Ronaldo could play for Millwall, Queens Park Rangers, Doncaster Rovers… anyone, and score a hat-trick in a game,” Ronaldo’s former Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, famously claimed. Messi might be able to achieve that, but I’m not sure.”
Here are a few of Ronaldo’s international accolades —
- 3x UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award
- 2x Premier League Player of the Season
- 2013-14 La Liga Best Player
- 14x FIFA FIFPro World XI
- 3x The Best FIFA Men’s Player
- 5x Winner Ballon d’Or
- 3x UEFA Best Player in Europe
- 1x European champion
- 5x Champions League winner
- 5x Golden Boot winner
- 4x FIFA Club World Cup winner
- 2x Italian Super Cup winner
- 7x Second highest goal scorer
- 2x Spanish champion
Ronaldo’s road, on the other hand, hasn’t always been smooth. Since his meteoric rise to fame, he has been the target of relentless criticism. His antics on and off the field have drawn the attention of the media. When he first arrived at Real Madrid, there were reservations about his ability to compete with Lionel Messi. However, he swiftly silenced his detractors with brilliant performances, winning La Liga in 2011-12. Between 2015 and 2018, Real Madrid won the Champions League three times in a row, which was the peak of his career.
Ronaldo is the embodiment of dedication and success. A model athlete and a source of inspiration for many. His on-field accomplishments and off-field ideals inspire individuals to work hard and persevere in order to achieve their goals.
For QNET direct sellers, the lesson is to respond to criticism with hard work and an unwavering determination to succeed.
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid, one of the greatest cricketers of all time, is an absolute legend in Indian cricket. He is known as ‘Mr. Dependable’ because he was always there to keep the squad safe and help them win tough games. He was also known as ‘The Wall’ because of his rock-solid support for India. “He was unflappable, furious focus, there was no use in attempting to ruffle his feathers because you couldn’t do it,” former Australian Captain Steve Waugh famously observed.
The following is a list of Rahul Dravid’s individual achievements in international cricket.
National honours
- 1998 – Arjuna Award recipient for achievements in cricket
- 2004 – Padma Shri – India’s fourth-highest civilian award
- 2013 – Padma Bhushan – India’s third highest civilian award
Other honours
- 1999 – CEAT International Cricketer of the World Cup
- 2000 – Dravid was one of the five cricketers selected as Wisden Cricketer of the Year
- 2004 – ICC Cricketer of the year – The highest award in the ICC listings
- ICC Test Player of The Year, ICC Cricketer of The Year (2004)
- MTV Youth Icon of the Year (2004)
- 2006 – Captain of the ICC’s Test Team
- 2011 – NDTV Indian of the Year’s Lifetime Achievement Award with Dev Anand
- 2012 – Don Bradman Award with Glenn McGrath
- 2015 – Wisden India’s Highest-Impact Test Batsman
- 2018 – ICC Hall of Fame
He had the ability to keep his cool and his coolness when the majority of them would lose their cool and their coolness. He was regularly mocked during a test match against Australia for failing to score a run in over 40 balls. The Australian crowd was attempting to agitate him and get him to lose his wicket like so many of his teammates. Dravid, on the other hand, is not one of them! He remained calm and patient, pitching his innings in a way that benefited his team.
He’d plan his innings deftly and ensure that he stayed at the wicket for his team. Dravid was a true team player who always put his teammates first.
All good things come to those who wait, and his patience was a testament to that. Many people who tend to give up too quickly or lose patience while pursuing their dreams can benefit from this lesson.
The key to getting desired outcomes for QNET direct sellers is to practise patience.
Michael Jordon
Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the best basketball player of all time. He is a good example of an athlete who refused to give up and, more significantly, who refused to quit without making a proper effort. Michael Jordan was kicked off his high school basketball team because he was not tall enough. This fueled his determination to become the best in the sport and establish himself as a force to be reckoned with. Athlete who would be chosen based on his abilities.
Here are the awards he has received over his career:
NBA
- Six-time NBA champion– 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
- Six-time NBA Finals MVP– 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
- Five-time NBA MVP– 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year– 1987–88
- NBA Rookie of the Year– 1984–85
- 10-time NBA scoring leader– 1987–1993, 1996–1998
- Three-time NBA steals leader– 1988, 1990, 1993
- 14-time NBA All-Star– 1985–1993, 1996–1998, 2002, 2003
- Three-time NBA All-Star Game MVP– 1988, 1996, 1998
- 10-time All-NBA First Team– 1987–1993, 1996–1998
- One-time All-NBA Second Team– 1985
- Nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team– 1988–1993, 1996–1998
- Two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion– 1987, 1988
- Two-time IBM Award winner – 1985, 1989
- Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996
- Selected on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021
- 23 was retired by the Chicago Bulls
- 23 was retired by the Miami Heat
USA Basketball
- Two-time Olympic gold medal winner – 1984, 1992
- Tournament of the Americas gold medal winner – 1992
- Pan American Games gold medal winner – 1983
However, one aspect that jumps out is his emphasis on failures and the significance of accepting them. “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve dropped nearly 300 games. I’ve failed numerous times throughout my life. That is why I am successful.”
“If you push me towards what you think is a weakness, I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength,” she says.
“There will be hurdles if you are striving to achieve something.” They’ve happened to me; they’ve happened to everyone. Obstacles, on the other hand, do not have to stop you. Don’t turn around and give up if you hit a brick wall. Determine whether you can climb it, pass through it, or work around it.”
Jordan has become a cultural hero as a result of his enthusiasm and willingness to turn barriers into opportunities. Millions of people all over the world look up to him!
Lesson for QNET direct sellers: Accept failures and use them to propel you forward.
Serena Williams
Serena Williams is one of the most inspiring tennis players in the world. She was a superb athlete during her career, winning 23 Grand Slam titles. She sits second only to Margret Court on the all-time list. Williams has overcome a number of obstacles in her life. Right from growing up in a challenging neighbourhood to fighting her way against various biases. She has always stood up for her beliefs and dazzled the world with magnificent performances.
Here are some of her career stats –
- Singles wins
- Grand slam: 23
- Summer Olympics: 1
- WTA tour championships: 5
- Grand slam cup: 1
- WTA 1000: 23
- WTA tour: 20
Doubles wins
- Grand slam: 14
- Summer Olympics: 3
- WTA 1000: 2
- WTA tour: 4
- Mixed Doubles Grand Slam: 2
She, like many other athletes, went through a lot of ups and downs before becoming one of the most successful players. During her early days, Serena was still adjusting to tennis and the large stage. She had just qualified for the Australian Open and was partnered with Irina Spîrlea, the (then) sixth seed. She lost the first set resoundingly, but instead of giving up, she gritted her teeth and fought back with a spectacular performance.
“I have to forget that when I go down a set.” ‘OK, it isn’t over yet; you are still in it, and you must fight for it.’ “Remain present,” she advised after the game.
She also attributes her achievement to having a disciplined mindset. She believes it is primarily psychological. It is critical not to give up when one is down and to avoid becoming overwhelmed by a minor setback. The idea is to constantly lift oneself up and strive for better results. “It’s just that I never give up.” I will fight till the end. You can’t just declare, “I want a bag of never-say-die spirit,” and expect to get it. It isn’t available for purchase. According to Serena Williams, “it needs to be innate.”
Direct sellers can learn a lot from QNET and sports
QNET and sports can each draw inspiration from one another. Difficult times tend to break people down and cause them to abandon their goals. Direct selling is now a trip that will almost certainly be fraught with difficulties. These difficulties can manifest themselves in the inability to advertise products, attract prospects, or expand the business. QNET and sports lovers have a lot to learn from each other.
An individual must summon courage and strength to overcome all odds and achieve success. In the same way that successful athletes have depended on their patience, hard effort, drive, and an instinctive desire to become indispensable in their field. By mixing these QNET and sports success lessons, anyone can become a better direct seller.