Limitless Monday – Stay in the game

Limitless Monday – Stay in the game

I am currently listening to a podcast called Founders. It’s a source of much inspiration, knowledge, and ideas gathered from the biographies of well known and not so well known business founders.

One of many biographies resonated with me: John Paul Getty.

A little about J. Paul Getty to whet the appetite before revealing the insightful quotation I walked away with.

John Paul Getty was the world’s richest person in the 1950s and 1960s. He made his fortune in oil and was one of the first to drill for it in the Middle East. He was a risk taker, a master networker, and a hopeless husband, married five times.

The parting quotation on Founders podcast summed up Getty’s philosophy in life perfectly, “I always sort to return the ball.”

The analogy is based on the game of tennis, the goal being to keep returning the ball no matter how difficult that may be until the point is won. If the opponent hits the ball with maximum force Getty would endeavor to return the ball with precision and power. If the ball isn’t returned by his opponent, Getty would serve another ball into play ready for his next challenge.

He wanted to be constantly in the game, in this case the game of life. Getty never rested on his laurels, previous successes, or insecurities. He was always in motion.

I’ll give you a simple example of this philosophy in action. A few years ago, when I was in the business of funding startups, I was sent hundreds of business plans. I made a point of reviewing the plans fast and returning my comments, questions, and a proposal to the entrepreneur without delay. It was a different approach to my competitors who took their time, needed to be constantly chased, and lost many of the good deals as a result. Following this approach, I closed 10 times more deals than my competitors.

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You can follow this analogy in life by keeping match fit by looking after yourself mentally and physically. Never give up, and be ready to grind your opponents into submission. Of course, there is another part to this analogy. While keeping the ball in the court, you must avoid unethical behavior. Cheating for example… No one will want to play with you if you have a bad reputation. You may find yourself playing a lesser game with little relevance or importance.

The takeaway from J. Paul Getty’s quotation, “I always sort to return the ball,” is to stay in the game. Giving up when you are exhausted, out of money, and out of luck is not an option!

Happy Monday!

Banner Image: Tennis. Image Credit – Renith R