During the UConn Sports Business Conference in March, an Applied Client Network (ACN) sponsored event, CEO Brian Langerman spoke alongside Ron Jaworski, Trey Wingo and Kevin Negandhi on how to obtain “Successful and Insightful Careers.” Throughout the panel event, the group spoke on a variety of topics relating to business today. Langerman, specifically, highlighted a few key themes that are foundational in the sports world and directly apply to success in the business world.
Following, we share those three themes.
Teamwork: Simplify Your Game Plans
Langerman highlighted that, when it comes to teamwork, communication and self-discipline are cornerstones of any team’s success. He encouraged young professionals to simplify their “game plans” into manageable components for individual team members. He also mentioned that professionals must learn how to accept what they cannot control, and focus on what they can control in order to achieve greater success on daily basis.
Failure: Embrace the Failure
Sports often embody the foundation of what makes a successful business. Thus, there are many lessons that can be learned from sports that directly apply to the business world. One that intersects, according to Langerman, is the theme around failure.
“We must embrace failure to succeed in business. It is healthy and can provide great feedback and growth,” Langerman stated.
Langerman also confronts perfection, saying that it “never happens.” Instead, he encourages failure because it usually comes before success. “You win or you learn and it’s truly great when you can achieve both [with your team],” said Langerman.
“We must embrace failure to succeed in business. It is healthy and can provide great feedback and growth.”
Education: Be a Learner
The process of education and learning does not halt after you receive your diploma. According to Langerman, you must be a lifelong learner in order to thrive in business. He emphasizes that there is no shame in asking a lot of questions, and being obsessed with improving on all types of skills. “A lot of things you learn early on are transferrable skills that will help you onto the next role,” Langerman said.