Get All Access for $5/mo

Anand Mahindra Schools Startup Owners Via Football Analogy On Twitter Try football-esque back and forth-ing of approaches before going for the kill when the time is right, advised the veteran entrepreneur

By Soumya Duggal

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Anand Mahindra

From architecture to politics to sports to homeware, Anand Mahindra's Twitter corpus offers the Indian billionaire's amusing takes on a range of topics, especially in relation to entrepreneurship. In one of his latest tweets, the Mahindra group chairman encouraged his followers to run their startups by taking cues from the teamwork, perseverance and ingenuity displayed by football players in a recent match between intercity rivals Manchester United and Manchester City.

In the video shared by Mahindra, the Manchester City team can be seen passing the ball for 44 times before getting a chance to make the final pass that leads them to a goal. "A lesson in teamwork of course. But also an analogy for how a startup company needs to operate. Success comes not from relentlessly advancing together in one direction but back and forth, trying new angles of approach and then going for the 'kill' when the strategic path is clear," the industrialist captioned the video, which has received over 354,000 views so far. The post has also received 2,319 retweets and 14,900 likes.

As is the case on the microblogging site, many a comment followed Mahindra's tweet. "When the reds (Manchester United) could not touch the ball for such a long time, they should have done some out of the box thinking because the longer they delayed the higher the probability of a goal. Can't sit back when the market is giving warning signs to adapt and change," said one user, in keeping with Mahindra's sports analogy.

"After 44 passes they achieved their goal. This shows the patience and trust amongst each other. These days everyone wants everything in a flashlight, leading towards the in-synchronisation of the team which leads the failure," added another user.

However, there were some naysayers as well. "That's the difference between football and running a company. You cannot fluctuate back and forth while running a company. You have to cement the gains and experience and keep moving forward. There is no looking back," pointed out one user.

Another shared a video featuring Arsenal's top five team goals and said, "I think this video is a better example of a focussed team-based approach rather than endless meandering."

Soumya Duggal

Former Feature Writer

Business News

Here's What the CPI Report Means for Your Wallet, According to JPMorgan and EY Experts

Most experts agree that there will be another rate cut next week.

Leadership

Why Your AI Strategy Will Fail Without the Right Talent in Place

Using fractional AI experts through specialized platforms allows companies to access top talent cost-effectively, drive innovation and scale agile strategies for growth.

Science & Technology

Use This Framework to Successfully Integrate AI Into Your Business Operations

Here's how to ensure both innovation and compliance when using AI in your organization.

Growing a Business

Why Business Owners Should Streamline Their Operations Now for Success in 2025

As the holiday season and year-end approach, business owners face heightened operational demands, from inventory management to spend control. By streamlining these processes and partnering with flexible suppliers, businesses can maintain efficiency, meet customer needs and focus on growth while navigating this busy period.

Business News

Apple Is Adding ChatGPT to iPhones This Week. Here's How It Works.

ChatGPT will take over questions that Siri can't answer.