There's an article on espn.com where Kobe Bryant criticizes AAU basketball programs and praises European players' skills.
At least that's what my 4 year old is learning.
What he's NOT learning is how to be on an And 1 Mixtape Tour anytime soon.
In the world of business and consulting, Kobe's opinion and point of view also applies.
It's easy to get caught up in the hype of a culture, the charisma of a leader, and the cool perks that an organization may offer.
But if the company does not understand the fundamentals of operating and growing a business, then you might as well be playing for the Harlem Globetrotters - or worse, the Washington Generals.
When a company and its leadership has a handle on the fundamentals - people, process, and product (or service) [I stole that from The Profit] it's that organization that will make it through the economic highs and lows that come with operating over a long period of time.
So before you join that really cool startup or invest in that new venture, ask the most basic of questions about organizational and financial health.
Don't get distracted by the paid sabbatical or company parties that rage.
Those shiny objects will keep you satisfied for only so long.
"AAU basketball," Bryant said. "Horrible, terrible AAU basketball. It's stupid. It doesn't teach our kids how to play the game at all so you wind up having players that are big and they bring it up and they do all this fancy crap and they don't know how to post. They don't know the fundamentals of the game. It's stupid."Kobe comes from an era where the basics and the fundamentals mattered. At it's most basic level, basketball is about dribbling, passing, and shooting.
At least that's what my 4 year old is learning.
What he's NOT learning is how to be on an And 1 Mixtape Tour anytime soon.
In the world of business and consulting, Kobe's opinion and point of view also applies.
It's easy to get caught up in the hype of a culture, the charisma of a leader, and the cool perks that an organization may offer.
But if the company does not understand the fundamentals of operating and growing a business, then you might as well be playing for the Harlem Globetrotters - or worse, the Washington Generals.
When a company and its leadership has a handle on the fundamentals - people, process, and product (or service) [I stole that from The Profit] it's that organization that will make it through the economic highs and lows that come with operating over a long period of time.
So before you join that really cool startup or invest in that new venture, ask the most basic of questions about organizational and financial health.
Don't get distracted by the paid sabbatical or company parties that rage.
Those shiny objects will keep you satisfied for only so long.
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