I’m a huge fan of watching videos of the great college coaches. John Wooden, Bobby Knight and most recently Paul “Bear” Bryant, the famed Alabama football coach are some of my favorites. Over the weekend, I watched a quick 2 min. video of Coach Bryant talking to incoming freshmen football players, it must have been from the 1960’s. The link is at the end of this article.

Coach Bryant ranked players on a talent score of 100 max. In the video he says that a player with a talent score of 75 could beat an opposing player with a talent score of 85 through preparation, desire and doing the “little things”. He says that the “little things” make the difference in getting a player with less talent ready to beat a player with more talent, and I couldn’t agree more.

This concept holds true in business as well. How often have we seen a less talented employee outperform an employee with a much better pedigree? I see it all the time, because of preparation, desire and the ability to do the little things well over a long period of time.

But what are the little things that make the difference in today’s marketplace?

Here is my list of 8 “little things” that will help you win regardless of the competition you are up against:

1. Sunday preparation: Be ready for Monday by preparing on Sunday. Don’t let your week start you off…you start your week off… by having a predetermined plan that is created on Sunday night.
2. Skill up daily: I believe you need to work on your skills for a minimum of 1 hour per day. Who are you listening to, ready about, watching, or speaking with for 1 hour each day?
3. Fill your calendar: NO white space. Fill the damn thing to the brim each and every day.
4. Give something away: Send your clients something for FREE each week. An article, a link to a video, a copy of a chapter in a book, or maybe a new concept. Get comfortable giving stuff away vs. always being on the take.
5. Come in earlier/Stay later: Yes…work more hours than your competitors either inside or outside your office.
6. Know where you rank: Are you in the top, middle or bottom of the pack? You need to know where you currently rank within your company or your industry. Remember, you are compensated equal to the amount of value you bring to the situation.
7. Develop a “I WANT TO WIN ATTITUDE”: If you don’t want to beat the competition and WIN – you won’t. Around every corner there is now someone gunning for you, and you simply have to want to win to put yourself in a position to win.
8. Smile more: yes…smile more. Don’t let the process of success and winning beat you down…smile and enjoy it. My top guys are happy and they smile a lot during the day.
9. Here is the link to the video I mentioned above. Enjoy!

Coach “Bear” Bryant Locker Room Speech

About the Author

Matt Manero is the Founder and President of Commercial Fleet Financing, Inc. (CFF) located in Dallas, TX. CFF is celebrating its 21st year in business and provides financing for commercial fleet vehicles such as box trucks, cargo vans, big rigs, tow trucks, dump trucks and construction equipment. CFF is the proud recipient of the 2014 & 2015 Inc. Magazine Top 500/5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. Matt has helped dozens of employees and thousands of small business owners move closer to the money they deserve. He is the author of, “The Grit” and his latest book, “I NEED MORE MONEY” will be out in the fall of 2016. Learn more at www.cffnationwide.com or call 972.247.8447 phone on twitter @mattmanero.