Entrepreneurial Perspective-Creative Gamesmanship or Cheating?

There was a recent incident in a professional football game where a team coach on the sidelines stuck out his knee and tripped an opposing team player running past him. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and despite apologies, the coach was suspended. 

Meanwhile, the newsreels  revealed that that same coach had ordered his non-playing team members to line up foot to foot along the sidelines, effectively creating a wall that could impede the progress of a runner along those same sidelines. Hmmm. Was this just psychological pressure or an illegal maneuver?

In my local paper today, commentary was entitled, ‘Thin Line Between Psyching and Cheating’, pointing out that as in many games there is a fine line between gamesmanship and unsportsmanlike behavior. Think about bluffing in poker, or Mohammed Ali announcing ahead of time what round and how he would take down his opponent. This is pure psychological ‘messing with the mind’ of their adversary. The argument was made that while the sideline lineup was not illegal, the team was trying to get away with what they could to sway the game in their favor; that it was just good preparation in winning game tactics. Very often, it is a matter of perspective.

On a positive note, you can apply this to your entrepreneurial arsenal to build your business. Let’s think about how YOU can use the issue of perspective and understanding how the brain works in a more positive light to outwit your competition or to lead your customer to drink from the well of your offer.  It’s really a matter of the psychology of sales.

Sometimes it’s as simple as ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ syndrome by being first or top-dog in your niche. Or seeing who can out-app the other guy with all the newest technology?  Or who is less likely to go down the tubes by doing or not doing some lemming-like behavior rampant in the marketplace. Or who is associated with or endorsed by the biggest celebrity of the moment….. I guess I could have pulled that one with Paula Abdul, who is reinventing herself (agian) with her new show.

Let me know of any ideas you have, preferably staying on the legal side of the equation!