What Can Fantasy Football Teach Us About Corporate Life?
if you’re anything like fgpm president molly madonia and exchequer steven macdonald, fantasy football takes up a solid portion of your sunday.
One of the benefits of having mutual hobbies with corporate friends is the camaraderie (and emotional roller coaster) shared during games . . . and the subsequent chatter over Teams from Thursday to Monday. Not only do Molly and Steve share a league, they started to notice certain overlaps in their work experiences and fantasy football teams. Here are eight of their most astute observations.
Your Fantasy Football draft can be compared to college. You can put in all the effort available to succeed, with the best prep and info and stats, but you still need to show up for the rest of the season and stay engaged. The rest of the season (and your career) will leverage the players (i.e. your knowledge) but a good starting roster is the foundation.
Knowing when to cut a player is key. You may love that running back but if they are not serving a meaningful purpose on your team, what is the point of having them? Compare this to knowing when to leave a job. If you are not fulfilled in your role, really consider your reasons for staying.
Defense wins championships - and having a CYA plan can save your career. Just as you would not overlook a great defensive effort, be sure to document your wins, progress, development, and any potential red flags that could pop up later.
4. Player injuries happen, just as career setbacks will happen. Your best player may get hurt or you may be passed over for a promotion. However, a skillful waiver wire pickup can continue your good momentum, and knowing how to bounce back from negative feedback will help you overcome the situation.
5. Speaking of the waiver wire, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are plenty of good players (i.e. your trusted coworkers and mentors) waiting in the wings to help you make the most of your season - lean on them for support, even just for a couple of games, when needed.
6. In both fantasy football and in your career, it is important to plan for the long run. Ensuring your team is prepared for the playoffs is just as important, if not more important, than winning any single game. Be sure to set yourself up for long-term success by setting goals, advcoating for yourself, and finding a few good coaches to get you to the playoffs.
7. In order to win at Fantasy Football, your individual players need to excel. The individual contributions to the overall score are what matters. A single player, ahem Travis Kelce-Swift, can save your season. Compare this to the small steps needed to excel - how are you showing up for your career each and every day? What decisions are you making today that will affect your future?
8. Sometimes players that you thought were going to save your season are a bust and certain careerpaths don’t work out. And that’s okay. While not as easy to do in your career, a solid trade can help you move forward, i.e. seeking a new opportunity. By re-evaluating your strategy and what you are looking for in your next team, you can improve and prepare for your next opportunity.
let us know your best fantasy football analogies in the comments!
This article is co-authored by FGPM Exchequer Steven MacDonald. Find Steve on LinkedIn.
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