Over the weekend, my husband and I attended the season opener for the Tennessee Vols in Atlanta. When we arrived, 2 hours before game time, the players were already on the field practicing, stretching, and running drills.
Once again, I was reminded of the work ethic and commitment that these young professional athletes have, and how much it aligns with what it takes to be a success in business.
They don’t show up on the field on game day and wing it. They prepare mentally, physically, and emotionally to contribute and do their part.
Practice for sports is all about skill development. It primes you to perform and be ready to deliver under pressure, when the points count.
“Practice” in business is the same. Every day, you’re working to develop how to create even better offers and outcomes. You deliver impeccable customer service, and help your clients achieve great results.
But how do you do this?
Do you invest in your skill development daily?
Do you prepare meticulously for how you serve your clients?
Do you focus on how to build strong relationships and make their experiences memorable?
Do you take time to really think about and analyze your marketing and the impression you make on others?
Are you committed to not letting people down every time you “play” at your own craft?
Practice in business looks like preparing your presentation and running through it multiple times before you’re sitting down with the client, not just winging it.
It means continuously working to uplevel your knowledge, skills, and abilities to better serve your clients and customers, versus staying the same.
It means steadily learning to stay ahead in business and your field by reading articles and taking courses, instead of doomscrolling on Instagram and Facebook.
True professionals commit to mastery and show up for it every day.
They show up over and over again (even when they don’t feel like it). They don’t assume good enough is good enough.
College athletes know they need to perform on game day, and yet they show up just as fierce in practice because they know it’s the commitment to practice that will enable them to perform during show time.
As you sit down to watch your favorite college team this fall, I want you to think about this… If college athletes can commit to relentless practice and strive for greatness for four years, why wouldn’t you do the same for the business you’ve built for life?
Oh, and by the way, they won their first game! Go Vols!
P.S. Want focused time to streamline a system or practice a specific skill for your business? Book an Action Accelerator with me. It’s a 90-minute 1:1 session where we’ll tackle your biggest challenge and create a clear path forward. Click here for details.
A LIVE 5-MONTH COHORT WITH LISA LARTER · STARTS AUG 4, 2026