Sports Metaphors and Life

Sports metaphors and sports quotes are often used in the business world, especially in sales. When I worked in sales in publishing, my manager was a big sports enthusiast who loved to use sports quotes and metaphors to motivate me and the other sales reps who worked for him to do our best. Sometimes when he started with the sports metaphors, we would just roll our eyes--here he goes again! People who talk and write about success, motivation, and self improvement often use sports quotes and metaphors. Here are some common examples.

Sports Quotes

"Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing." Vince Lombardi (NFL football coach)

"Sports is human life in microcosm." Howard Cosell (sports announcer)

"Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming." (John Wooden, UCLA basketball coach who won more championships than any coach in any sport)

"Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character." (John Wooden)

Sports Metaphors

The one-two punch (boxing) (to do two powerful things to get the sale, etc.)
Leave it all on the field (football) (give all you have to win or be successful)
To choke (basketball) (to miss the shot because of nerves, to fail because of nerves)
To hit a home run (baseball) (Hit the ball over the fence and score a point, to do something really good in life or business to be successful)
Suck it up! (football) (even though you are tired, do all you can to win or succeed)
Do it for the team! (general) (put the success of the team ahead of your own success)

Do you have your own favorite sports quotes and metaphors that are used in business and life?


ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY'S RIDDLES.

ENGLISH RIDDLE: Nothing.
SPANISH RIDDLE Nada. (A fish swims (nada). A fish does nothing (nada).