What do American Football and Start Ups have in common?

…Everything.

Some context: I am a huge Redskins fan, but am also currently a co-founder at Sauce.ly (the coolest Start Up around that’s run out of 2 London bedrooms).

This weekend through the serendipity of trying to watch Any Given Sunday (best american football movie ever) I discovered a movie called We Could Be King.

It’s a documentary that follows two rival schools in Philadelphia who are merged due to a gigantic budget deficit and have their sports funding cut.

The coach however doesn’t let this stand in his way. He volunteers his time to coach the team of misfits. Students who had previously brawled over bad calls have to learn to become team mates with rusty old kit.
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The whole way through the movie, the coach has one message. One mantra.

Humble & Hungry

Nothing else. He urges that the team stay humble and hungry. I found this message really resonated with me. No bells and whistles. Simply take what you have and each other. Face insurmountable odds. Create something great.

This is the life of a Start Up. The true drive of a founding team cannot be money. You will find, that those who leave their salaried jobs with the goal of making a billion dollars do not often succeed.

Building a Start Up is about creating something awesome and life changing. With limited financial resources, you must self inspire, use what you have and get others to work with you on a common goal.

While there are vast economic differences between the team at Martin Luther King high school and most Start Ups, there are also some huge similarities. That in itself if extremely humbling.
The film even covers dealing with stress and distractions. That is a problem for every person, in every start up, every day.
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So while many founders advise that you should watch The Social Network, Jerry Maguire and Office Space. I urge you to start your business bingeathon with We Could Be King.

​Remember what you’re here to do.