If you have ever played a sport, or even watched it from the strands at some point, you know the thrill and excitement that surrounds the entire stadium as these inspiring sportsmen do whatever it takes to win. The passion and willpower that goes into it, the fast-paced heart-pumping action and the impeccable chemistry between different team members make for an epic display of fortitude that creates history. Want to know what my favorite sport is? The sport of Business.

Take everything that goes into building a successful sporting career and multiply that by maybe a million and you’ll have an idea of what goes into building a successful business. Here, you can’t just train for months on end and prove yourself in the field in a set of games. This is an ongoing battle between you and your opponents, and you go in without any training, not knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your own team before they strike out and it’s already too late.

When you play the sport of business, hard work, dedication and laser-sharp focus are all a given, but you also need to realize that your opponent might be as capable as you, if not more so. What will set you apart is your edge. This can come in any form, and like any athlete you need to figure out what your edge is, and use it to stand out over your opponent.

When you’re in the arena with all eyes on you and just a few minutes left on the clock, you need to read your opponent and make quick moves and make split-second decisions that can turn the tides in your favor (or not). You need to think on your feet as nothing can ever be anticipated too well in the sport of business.

This is a competitive sport where everyone is striving to be the best, which is why you need to spend all your time and energy in being faster, stronger, and aim higher. You need to keep re-inventing and re-strategizing to come up with new ways to amaze the crowd. Set higher goals and accept new challenges every day so the only way you go is up.

Teamwork is of utmost importance in this sport, each member contributing something unique to your game. You are only as strong as your weakest link, so each member should be the best at the job they do. As the captain, you need to learn how to trust each one with what they do best, so everyone can work together and reach that finish line.

The most important of all is to play the game to win. But probably even more so is to not play “not to lose”. Survival is not the goal, entrepreneurial excellence is. If you’re in the game to play it safe and to just exist, chances are you will end up losing after all. Taking risks is the only way to move forward and succeed, and if you don’t, you can get back up, learn from your mistake and get back in the game with renewed force.

If you can deal with all the demands of the sport, it can be the most fun and thrilling game you ever played. The rewards are immense, but like any sport, the most important thing is to feel the heat, push boundaries and have a blast while you’re at it.