Thanks to teen movies, many people have this stereotypical idea of cheerleaders as being ditzy and mean. However, there are a great many life-lessons that can be learned during your time on the team that have surprising application in the business world.
1. Getting to the top of the pyramid means taking a few risks. The person at the top of the pyramid is the one who is willing to take the risks, usually in the form of a backflip or a layout. It helps to be light, nimble, and flexible. Since you are the person with the farthest to fall, you have to be able to rely on the stability of the team suporting you.
Fortunately, in business no one actually tosses you ten feet into the air and expects you land on your feet.
Well, almost never.
2. Step lightly on your way to the top. You can't simply manipulate and coerce your way to the top of the pyramid. Well, you can, but then when it comes time to perform a trust fall, you may have a slight problem.
This corollary of point number one seems to have escaped quite a few people. Some seem to think that "underlings" are meant to be stepped on, climbed over, and not-so-subtly kicked on the way up. It's one thing to accidentally land on someone's foot, but some people leave a trail of crushed clavicles and contusions. These are the same people who discover that when they are in trouble, no one will return their calls.
Make sure you know the difference between who is "underneath you" and who is "holding you up" - it's a big one.
3. Keep cheering loudly, even you are winning. This is a marketing lesson if ever there was one. So you've landed the big client. Maybe you've landed several. Don't stop marketing your company and looking for new clients just because you are currently busy. Projects end, businesses change, decision-makers come and go - make sure you've got new clients lined up. It's the only way to keep your company growing, your cash flowing, and V-I-C-T- oh nevermind.
4. Having the lead at halftime doesn't mean you can slack for the last half of the game. So you were first to market with your product, or maybe you built a better mousetrap.
Right now there is someone out there thinking about how they can capture your market share with a bigger, better, faster version.
Besides, in business the game doesn't actually end - you might be winning at a given moment, but you never can say you've "won."
(I know: that was a stretch for cheerleading. But cheerleaders need to stretch.)
5. As mom used to say, "if you are going to do a backflip in a miniskirt, you'd better be wearing your best underneath." Actually, when mom said it, I think there was a bus involved somehow, but close enough.
Don't call attention to practices that you don't actually want scrutinized. Better still, don't get involved in practices that can't stand up to scrutiny. Sooner or later someone is going to examine what's behind the hype.
Sometimes it's vapourware, and sometimes it's fraud. Sometimes it's just a matter of making an announcement of your latest greatest product so far in advance of it actually coming to market that the buzz comes and goes without paying off in terms of sales.
Whatever the cause, get your house in order before throwing the doors open. Sooner or later, someone is going to ask that question.
For more details, see: Hollinger, Enron, or Worldcom. Of course, it's best not to get mental images of Bernard Ebbers wearing a miniskirt.
© 2005 Gisela McKay. Gisela McKay is Chief Technology Officer of pixcode Inc. Gisela envisions new applications for technology, and then makes sure they become reality. Some of her projects include: NaturalHealthcare.ca, CanadaEventsCalendar.ca, and BusinessPartnerships.ca. Gisela wrote this article to combat that common exclamation: "YOU were a cheerleader? But you seem so smart!"
Jimmy Jenkins Jr. is not an adventurer, traveler, or pioneer.... Read More
Despite my diplomas that allowed me to teach in state... Read More
Hey, Poor Rix: What do you think about school food?... Read More
We all know the Internet is a great tool for... Read More
Well, I hope you did not read that headline wrong,... Read More
A is for Anti-Virus: she got it from my Uncle.B... Read More
I like to bark. I mean, I like to bark... Read More
Several years ago, I switched health insurance companies and my... Read More
I have recently become frustrated with something at doughnut establishments,... Read More
If you are a citizen of UK or Australia, you... Read More
One of the great benefits of belonging to a health... Read More
IF, An Online Internet Marketing PoemIf before you have turned... Read More
He huffed and he puffed and he blew the house... Read More
Do you believe in the power of your convictions?It's time... Read More
This article was prompted by something I heard (second hand)... Read More
I love animals but cats are my favorites. There's just... Read More
Voltaire said, "God is a comedian playing to an... Read More
I cracked open the fortune cookie and read the little... Read More
Humans think much like monkeys and other primates, not much... Read More
Have you ever heard that saying, "The show must go... Read More
Over visiting a neighbor the other day?"Would you like a... Read More
It's time for me to announce that I have a... Read More
Let me start by saying that 'I am an American'... Read More
Looking for a lighthearted and fun way to remove the... Read More
NOTE: This article was originally published in May 2000 at... Read More
I am currently perplexed by the concept of outgoing mail.... Read More
Imagine my surprise when I went to Jamaica a few... Read More
I just turned on the news a minute ago and... Read More
A welding helmet is a safety device worn for protection... Read More
My next-door neighbors found a human bone in their backyard.... Read More
Saturday morning. I went, in the early morning, to the... Read More
With her Jamaican accent Miss Cleo, a self proclaimed psychic... Read More
Dear Poor Rix: A guy just invited me to a... Read More
Have you ever heard that saying, "The show must go... Read More
Well, I hope you did not read that headline wrong,... Read More
Tired of the same ol', same ol' when it come... Read More
Every day, or at least every other day, we make... Read More
Hey, Poor Rix: What do you think about school food?... Read More
Viagra. That one word packs a lot of punch. Let's... Read More
Voltaire said, "God is a comedian playing to an... Read More
"Education is worth a whole lot. Just think - with... Read More
A is for Anti-Virus: she got it from my Uncle.B... Read More
NOTE: This article was originally published in May 2000 at... Read More
... Read More
One of the great benefits of belonging to a health... Read More
Today while driving I saw a young girl, probably around... Read More
Let me start by saying that 'I am an American'... Read More
IF, An Online Internet Marketing PoemIf before you have turned... Read More
I will start this by saying that yes, I did... Read More
I won't lie: there are a lot of things I... Read More
Dear Poor Rix: A guy just invited me to a... Read More
It's time for me to announce that I have a... Read More
Lactose Intolerant Individuals may prove a bonus in Space Missions.... Read More
Here, for your barfing pleasure, are the top ten worst... Read More
Are we starting to see the Housing Bubble Burst in... Read More
Space exploration came a long way since I was the... Read More
To: Maybelle Misfire From: I. M.. Power, VP Welcome aboard!... Read More
I... Read More
How To Marry A Wealthy Guy(or Girl... Or at least... Read More
If you ever saw Aristophanes live on stage, you must... Read More
This past week as Mr. Man and I lounged around... Read More
One of the best parts of a vacation is the... Read More
I just turned on the news a minute ago and... Read More
Ace of Base hasn't seen the sign for quite some... Read More
This morning I decided to find myself. I originally looked... Read More
I cracked open the fortune cookie and read the little... Read More
Humor & Entertainment |