5 lessons from Muhammad Ali for your business

Muhammad Ali once said: “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” The boxing legend and arguably one of the most significant sporting figures of the 20th century who died on June 3rd was also known for his leadership abilities and there is actually a huge amount that we can learn from him to apply to the world of business.

Overcome set-backs 
Ali graduated 376th out of a class of 391 in high school and he also claimed that he had never read, but that didn’t stop him from becoming a global icon. Even when he refused to fight in the Vietnam war and his career was put on hold for almost four years, he still went onto become heavyweight champion twice more after. By having a drive for something and a dream that you will make reality will help you to stay focused on your goal, despite any set-backs and complications.

Rebrand to reflect your identity 
Muhammed Ali essentially rebranded himself and was still a complete success. After he took on the religion of Islam, he made a conscious decision to pick a name that reflected his values and identity, despite already being well known by his previous name Cassius Clay, which he described as his ‘slave name’. If you feel like your business is having an identity crisis, it is OK to change a few things.

Please your audience 
Ali was aware that he had fans worldwide, and therefore chose to fight in rings globally rather than just in the US. He fought the Rumble in the Jungle in Zaire and the Thriller in the Philippines, plus fights in Indonesia, Ireland, Japan and West Germany. Because of doing this, Ali became an even bigger name and he gained even more fans and support. Think about where your audience is and how you can reach them. Make it clear to them that you want to be there for them.

Be your own PR
Muhammed Ali sold himself brilliantly in and out of the ring. Despite the political and religious controversy throughout his career, he inspired all kinds of people with his words as well as his fighting spirit. He created a persona of a real show man, which meant that people who weren’t interested in boxing were interested in him. Think about how you come across to clients and think about how you can inspire those around you. By building your business a persona, people will have something to remember your company by and you will be more successful. 

Have confidence in your abilities 
Nicknamed “The Greatest”, Muhammad Ali famously said: “I would have been the world’s greatest at whatever I did. If I were a garbage man, I’d be the world’s greatest garbage man! I’d pick up more garbage and faster than anyone has ever seen.” The world heavyweight champion taught us that it’s OK to have confidence in your abilities and to not be satisfied with second best. To be a success, you need to put the effort in and be determined that you want to be a leader, not a follower.