摘 要/Abstract

顶级运动员总能在电光火石间连续做出一系列精妙的决策，激活团队的化学反应，并将稍纵即逝的关键机会转化为成果。他们通过千锤百炼的日常训练和比赛打磨阅读比赛与决策的技能，使球场上的思考过程内化为本能式的直觉，才能在球场上以极快的速度完成阅读比赛、分析、决策、反馈、改进等一系列密集运算。

在卡塔尔世界杯决赛中，梅西用他充满创造力的跑位和传球线路处理串联、盘活了阿根廷中前场的局面；作为阿根廷队最年长的球员，不倦奔跑到加时赛最后一刻，打进了几乎“绝杀”比赛的进球；并以强大的心理素质影响和激励着团队全员在点球大战中胜出，最终带领球队夺冠。

一支十一人球队的夺冠之路需要梅西这样的顶级运动员，一个公司的商业成功也同样需要更多像梅西这样信念坚定、思维敏捷、心理过硬、体能充沛以及对胜利充满渴望的企业运动员。

Three lessons for entrepreneurs from Lionel Messi

Messi, like other sports greats such as Wayne Gretzky and LeBron James, has the ability to see not where the ball is, but where it is going to be. Messi also understands the movements of the players on both sides of the ball, and can predict which spaces will open up as the play progresses. Once that occurs, even when he doesn’t have the ball, he gets himself in the right spot so as to have the best chances of scoring.

So when the media says that Messi walks better than most players run, what they mean is, even when Messi doesn’t have the ball, he’s identifying which spaces are opening up and walking into them to set himself up for the best possible opportunity, once the ball arrives at his feet.

Business leaders can learn a lot from Messi about how to approach emerging markets.

1. “look where others aren't looking.” – Anjali Sud, CEO Vimeo

Business leaders too often find themselves swept up in a wave of new tech and lost in the undertow. One of the most difficult things any entrepreneur can encounter is a crowded market. These industries are difficult to not only innovate in, but market, and gain customers as well. They tend to have razor thin margins and ask far more than they return. Instead of entering a market already full to the brim, find the open space on the field and setup where no one else is.

2.“The obstacle is the way” - Eisenhower

This quote comes from a tale of Eisenhower in Normandy during WWII. When he came upon a Nazi fortress, it initially seemed impossible to defeat, but what Eisenhower realized is that because the enemy was sitting in a static position, this allowed him to maneuver around and develop the best tactic he could. As with Messi and his ability to predict the movement of both his teammates and the opposing players, work to understand your dynamic market as a static market, move your company in best direction that will open up space in the future, as your play or market develops.

3. “Instead of first mover advantage make the last great development in a specific market and reap the fruits of a mature ecosystem.” – Peter Thiel

Messi often exemplifies that in his play – he can break into an opponent’s side quickly and efficiently, but more often, he’s the one who ends the play with a goal. Messi’s true talent is in his ability to asses a dynamic play as though it is static and understand that as it continues to develop, it will become more static and predictable, this allows him to become the x-factor and end the play all together. As your market develops, develop strategies for how to become the final, lasting player in the field, the one who has their name next to the goal on the board.

Treat your industry like Lionel Messi does soccer field: watch the play develop, get open, execute when the time comes.