by Steve Haubrick
Whether you are in business or playing sports, trying to do everything on your own could become your biggest downfall. Every successful person has had a partner or numerous partners. Sherlock Holmes had Watson. David Beckham had the entire LA Galaxy team help him win back-to-back MLS titles. Kobe Bryant didn’t win championships without Shaq or Pau. Even my league understands the value of partnerships as we work with the LA Galaxy and now with the Murrieta Valley Unified School District to maximize the experience for our players.
The keys for understanding partnerships is know your own (individually, group, or company) strengths and weaknesses. Once you identify these two categories, you need to find the right person or entity, which can mesh with you to strengthen your weaknesses. By knowing what you can bring to the table (your strengths), a person or entity can work to capture the best partners by selling the value of such a partnership to them.
In the soccer world, there are recreational, league, and school programs revolving around the sport. Some groups have better recreational programs. Others have better fields. Still others improve a child’s skills better over time. Thus, leagues often work to improve their weaknesses on their own. However, the successful groups aren’t afraid to identify their deficiencies and look towards strategic partners to catapult them to the next level.
Within the business world, companies do this all the time. Disney is one of the largest media companies in the world. Over their history, they have constantly succeeded in appealing to young girls. In the past few years, they have gone out and made relationships with Marvel and now Lucasfilm to bring in brands that appealed to young boys, a weakness for them.
Thus, whatever you are doing whether in your personal life, sports, or business, do not be afraid to admit you are not perfect. Also, find those partnerships that will take you to the next level. Should you have any questions about the game or want to find out more details about soccer, feel free to contact me at president@myslsoccer.org“>president@myslsoccer.org.
Steve Haubrick is the MYSL/Murrieta Surf Soccer Club President.