As direct sellers, you are faced with as many challenging scenarios as there are opportunities. Of course, the direct selling future in India is as bright as ever. With the help of platforms like QNET India, direct selling can be a very lucrative business venture for you. However, it takes acumen and a sharp learning curve to stand out and excel in the direct selling industry.
Direct selling entrepreneurs and leaders need to keep their eyes and ears open for learning opportunities that can help them advance in their careers and businesses. Popular culture and media have always been a great source of learning for the world of business. From books and authors such as J K Rowling to movies and actors like the late Chadwick Boseman, leadership lessons are hidden everywhere for you to glean from.
And right now almost the entire nation is hooked on to a cricketing event that promises entertainment and learning for the next couple of months. It is the new season of the most awaited Twenty20 cricketing event by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) – Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024!
Leadership lessons from IPL captains
Now in its 17th edition, the IPL has produced some glorious moments, surprise wins, and heart-breaking losses for cricketing fans. But these larger-than-life matches are also filled with valuable lessons that direct sellers, entrepreneurs and leaders can glean from.
And who better to exemplify these lessons than some of the most celebrated captains of franchise cricket? So let’s look at some of the leadership lessons that direct sellers and entrepreneurs can learn from IPL captains.
1) Resilience
Rising from the ashes like a phoenix after a near-fatal car accident in December 2022 is in itself a huge lesson from the life of Delhi Capitals’ captain Rishabh Pant. What Pant epitomises so well is the resilience of making a strong comeback after hitting the lowest of lows.
Direct selling companies in India can go through some of the most trying times and take revenue hits at times, such as during the pandemic. However, Pant has exemplified resilience by accepting the reality that he is not in the best of shape anymore and yet works from there to get better day by day. Similarly, once direct sellers admit the reality during a time of loss or hardship, the only way for them is up.
Rishabh Pant also teaches direct sellers that one can always continue to be ambitious about making a comeback while being realistic about their strengths and weaknesses at the same time. Pant has been ambitious and worked hard on his fitness to make a comeback. Yet, he also continues to play cautiously to avoid any injuries even as he continues to build on it.
2) Industrious
In the initial days of your business as a direct seller, you are either entirely alone in the game or you are working with limited resources and team members. It is easy for entrepreneurs to complain about the lack of better resources. However, true leaders and businessmen make the most of what they already have and capitalise on whatever people and resources are available and turn them into winners.
This ability to be industrious can be learnt from none other than Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the most successful among IPL captains. Dhoni’s industrious nature allows him to recruit anyone, especially people who have fallen out of favour and turn them into match winners. From Ashish Nehra, Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa to Ajinkya Rahane and now Shivam Dube, Dhoni has made the most of whatever resources are available and use them in a way that has helped these cricketers flourish while contributing to the success of Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Read More: Teamwork lessons for leaders from Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni
No wonder, former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) player, AB de Villiers praised Dhoni for helping Shivam Dube break free.
3) Perseverance
While everyone wants to win, not everyone gets to win. A leader’s true mettle is proved not when they are winning but when they consistently lose yet do not give up. This perseverance is epitomised by none other than the batting legend Virat Kohli.
Read More: Dedication, Passion, and Perseverance: The Values that Drive Virat Kohli’s Success
As the former captain of RCB, and even now as its current leading player, Kohli has continued to work on himself and not given up in the face of defeat. RCB is yet to win an IPL title in the last 16 editions so far. Yet, that has not deterred King Kohli from working on his fitness, his batting skills, and his on-field presence, and has continued to give his best for the team.
The direct selling industry in India is booming. But that doesn’t mean there will not be days of hardships. However, direct sellers can learn from Kohli the art and craft of perseverance so that they do not give up during hardships and are eventually able to enjoy the sweet fruit of victory.
Read More: 4 Success Lessons from Virat Kohli | QNET India
4) Lead by Example
One of the hardest things about entrepreneurship is finding motivation. True leaders and entrepreneurs have the knack of self-motivation that helps them keep going irrespective of whether they find motivation from any other sources.
It is this ability to keep himself motivated that has led Mumbai Indians’ (MI) former captain Rohit Sharma to be the second most successful IPL captain. The ‘hitman’ Rohit has led by example whenever it has counted and the match situation has demanded. He has not only set the vision for MI to be a fearless bunch of cricketers but also led by example by playing swashbuckling shots in his role as an opener. No wonder, this has led to Rohit emerge as an IPL captain with the second-best win percentage of 56.32%, behind only MS Dhoni of CSK.
When direct sellers and entrepreneurs lead by example, they first take the same risks and initiatives that they expect their team members to take. In doing so, they not only end up motivating their teammates but also earn their respect even when the going gets tough.
If you are someone who is looking to establish yourself among the top 10 direct selling companies in India in 2024, these leadership lessons from IPL captains can help you excel and stand out from the crowd.
