Emirates Team New Zealand

Well done to Emirates Team New Zealand for that magnificent America’s Cup win.

That victory did not happen by chance.  The America’s Cup victory is the culmination of years of meticulous planning to bring a great team of sailors, shore support, and designers together with a common purpose.  The mission had to be funded, and then broken down into a series of goals.  .And above all there was an overriding belief by Team New Zealand in their ability to achieve the end goal.

We can learn a lot from this campaign.  In business you always need:

• An end goal – something in the future that you aim for, and when you get there it feels in every respect like a victory (winning the cup)
• A plan to take you towards that goal.  This will be broken down into a seemingly endless number of tasks, with timelines to keep you on track (design, technology, sailing skills and funding)
• People to help you reach your goal.  The front line team (sailors) and a support back room team (shore team and management staff)
• A financial budget which turns those goals into money terms, and alerts you of different pressure points on your finances, but more importantly shows you the end result in profit achieved and cash in the bank
• A driving force to make everything happen which comes from a belief in yourself to reach the end goal.

So, don’t be one of those businesses which plan to fail by failing to plan. Set yourself up to win your own version of the America’s Cup.  New Zealand can match it with the best, and as a New Zealander, born or adopted from abroad, you and your business can achieve whatever you want if you plan, execute and believe that you can overcome all of the obstacles in your way.