Winning is Contagious – be a part of it!

The KC Chiefs have started 5 and 0 for the first time in a decade. The Royals just finished their best season in 24 years.  Sporting KC is one of the best professional soccer teams in the country.   Regardless of your interest in any of these professional teams’ accomplishments there is compelling evidence that it is beneficial to be a part of it.

There was an article in the KC Star Sunday, Oct. 6th on this topic.   In an interesting twist, the research showed that the economic impact in the United States was more notable in professional football than other professional sports.  On an international level, countries that lost in soccer have posted significant declines in their markets. Although it’s not easy to see a direct connection, the data clearly shows an economic uptick for winning in football.

What does this all mean?

Everyone wants to be associated with winners, we may root for the underdog, but at the end of the day it is because we want to see the underdog win. Do you ever get tired of watching the news when it is just one negative depressing story after another?   If it ignites you, great; you have the opportunity to “be the change you want to see in the world” (Mahatma Gandhi). But when there is nothing there to ignite you, one is naturally left feeling worn out.

A business associate recently shared an exercise he and his wife did a few years ago that also exemplifies this.    They purposely identified people they knew who either filled them up (positive) or who drained them (negative).   They did not disconnect from the drainers, but did intentionally limit their time with them.  And simply by identifying them, they were able to limit the negative impact when they did connect with them. Those that filled them up, they intentionally spent more time with. Basically they were choosing to jump on a winning bandwagon; be part of a winning team.

The KC Star article addressed the overall economic impact of a winning NFL team.   Although it is hard to calculate a specific amount, the research has the value somewhere between $100 – $250 increase in average income should a NFL team go from a 2 win season to a 10 win season, which at this point seems highly likely.   Per person it may not sound like much, but the total economic impact of including every person in the “Chief’s Kingdom” could be hundreds of millions of dollars.

Climb Aboard!  The stars may be aligning!

A recent Kiplinger’s article had Kansas City ranked 3rd as the best place to start a business.   Kansas City is clearly embracing the entrepreneurs on both sides of the state line and without question it adds to the positive winning atmosphere.  As an example, check out the recent announcement of a new TechStars / Sprint Startup Incubator – every city in the country would love to have that kind of investment in their town.   Any level of growth allows existing businesses to have opportunities to expand their products and services as well.

Still not sure things are changing? Another business associate recently had client meeting in Vancouver, BC.   When he was going through Customs at the airport, the rhetorical statement made after showing his ID was not about the “Wizard of Oz” or “Cow tipping” but it was “Kansas City…you have Google Fiber,  I almost moved there so I could have it”.  Definitely, not something you would have heard a few years ago.

Where the local professional teams finish this season, next season, and beyond, only time will tell.  But it is hard not to feel the energy, optimism, and excitement that are created when an organization is winning.   So what about you?   Is your business being positively impacted by the recent success of our local professional teams?   As always, please share your thoughts in the space below.   Go Chiefs!

Chris Steinlage Kansas City Business Coach