"On the line."

Those three words can strike fear into the heart of any athlete. The moment they leave a coach’s mouth, you know what’s coming—grueling sprints, burning lungs, and the relentless push to the finish line. If you've ever played a sport, you know the feeling all too well.

Throughout my 17-year soccer career, I spent countless practices running laps and sprints, often as a consequence of someone misbehaving, not listening, or the team lacking focus. At the time, it felt like punishment. But in hindsight, those exhausting practices weren’t just about getting in shape for game day—they were lessons in discipline, perseverance, and mental toughness. They taught us how to push past discomfort, stay accountable, and do hard things, even when we didn’t want to.

The true value of sports goes far beyond learning how to shoot a basketball or execute the perfect tackle. For most of us, those technical skills won’t carry over into our adult lives—we’re not all destined for the NBA. But what never fades are the life skills developed along the way. The discipline, leadership, resilience, and teamwork you gain on the field or court will continue to serve you long after the final whistle blows. 

Playing sports isn’t just about competition or physical fitness; it’s a training ground for life. The challenges, victories, and setbacks shape us into better leaders, teammates, and individuals. And the skills we develop—discipline, resilience, teamwork, goal setting—go far beyond the field.

In fact, these very skills are the same qualities that define successful entrepreneurs. Just like an athlete must train, adapt, and push through setbacks, an entrepreneur faces countless challenges that test their endurance and mental fortitude. Whether it’s handling rejection, pivoting after a failed business idea, or leading a team through uncertainty, the ability to stay focused and persevere through adversity is what separates those who succeed from those who give up.

Much like the exhausting sprints I ran during soccer practice, building a business requires an unwavering commitment to improvement, even when the process feels grueling. Entrepreneurs, like athletes, must develop the habit of pushing beyond their initial limits, learning from failures or losses, and staying disciplined in pursuit of their goals. The teamwork that wins championships is eerily similar to the collaboration that fuels startups, and the same self-confidence that allows an athlete to take the game-winning shot is what enables an entrepreneur to take risks and chase big opportunities. 

When I was a sophomore at Daytona State College, our soccer team had one goal: return to the national championship tournament, just like we had the previous two seasons. But before we could even think about the big stage, we had to get through a best-of-three series against our fiercest rivals — Eastern Florida.

Like any true rivalry, there was no love lost between us. Emotions ran high, the stakes were even higher, and only one of us could advance to the regional tournament. Our first clash took place on a stormy night in Melbourne. After a two-hour weather delay, we kicked off under lightning-filled skies at 10:30 p.m. Fatigue, frustration, and the road atmosphere worked against us, and we fell 3-1.

But setbacks are part of the journey — in sports, in business, and in life.

We came into the second game with an all-or-nothing mindset. This time, we had the home-field advantage in Daytona, and we made the most of it. Fueled by grit and pride, we flipped the script with a 3-1 win of our own, setting the stage for a high-stakes final showdown.

The third and final game was everything you’d expect from a rivalry: fierce, physical, and full of tension. After 110 minutes of hard-fought soccer, we were deadlocked at 1-1. It came down to penalty kicks. With the score tied after four shots each, Eastern Florida had a chance to take the lead — until our keeper, Will Diaz, made a clutch save. Then my roommate, Kevin Kelly, stepped up to take the potential game-winner.

The stadium was buzzing with anxiety. You could feel the weight of the season hanging in the air. Kevin struck the ball, and as it hit the net, the crowd fell into stunned silence — except for our sideline, which exploded with pure joy. Against the odds, we were Region VIII champions. We had climbed back from defeat and seized our moment.

Looking back, that series taught me more than just how to handle pressure on the field — it showed me what happens when a group of people refuses to give up, even when the odds feel stacked against them. After that first loss, there was a part of us that truly believed the season might be over. The path ahead looked nearly impossible. But instead of folding, we refocused. We committed to each other, put in the work, and showed up with purpose.

That mindset shift — from doubt to drive — made all the difference. And in the end, it led us to one of the most unforgettable wins of our lives.

Entrepreneurship works the same way. There are going to be moments when the vision feels out of reach and success seems unlikely. But if you're willing to keep showing up, to do the hard work, and to believe in your team and your mission, you’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish. Just like on the field, it’s not about starting strong — it’s about finishing strong.

Reflecting on this experience got me thinking: What if playing sports is the ultimate entrepreneurial bootcamp?

It might sound like a bold claim, but one thing is undeniable—sports accelerate the development of the very skills that set great entrepreneurs apart. The lessons learned on the field, court, or track build the mindset needed to confront challenges, take calculated risks, and push through adversity.

My team’s playoff journey was filled with doubt. After losing that first match, we questioned if we had what it took. But we regrouped, refocused, and fought our way to an improbable victory. That experience mirrors the entrepreneurial path more than most people realize.

The truth is, 9 out of 10 startups fail. Every founder, no matter how talented or prepared, faces moments when things feel like they’re falling apart—when the future looks uncertain and success seems unlikely. But just like in sports, it’s in those moments that grit, teamwork, and belief make all the difference.

Not every athlete will become a founder, but the qualities forged through competition—resilience, adaptability, and relentless effort—are exactly what it takes to defy the odds in business and in life.

So whether you’re chasing a championship or building something from the ground up, don’t underestimate what sports can teach you. The lessons you pick up along the way might just shape the kind of leader you grow into.