Business Plan for Ice-Hockey Center

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Business Plan for Ice-Hockey Center Saimaa University of Applied Sciences Faculty of Business Administration, Lappeenranta Degree Programme in International Business Ilia Shtengelov Business Plan for Ice-hockey Center Thesis 2017 Abstract Ilia Shtengelov Business Plan for Ice-hockey Center, 96 pages, 1 appendix Saimaa University of Applied Sciences Faculty of Business Administration, Lappeenranta Degree Programme in International Business Thesis 2017 Instructor: Lecturer Pekka Mytty, Saimaa University of Applied Sciences The purpose of the study was to develop a business plan for an ice-hockey center in Finland to be implemented in the future. The theory related to a business plan concept is explained in the beginning. Afterwards, business plan was created according to the outline including strategic, marketing, financial and risk management plans. Apart from that, marketing research was conducted, which is the basis of a marketing plan. The information was gathered from the literature and Internet sources. Author’s experience and knowledge in the field supplemented empirical part, which was mostly done according to in-depth interviews and observation data. In-depth interviews were conducted with General Manager of TUTO Hockey club, two players from Junior Hockey League and a coach from SKA St. Petersburg Academy. Financial plan was designed according to International Ice Hockey Federation guide and the writer’s forecasts. As a result of this thesis, a business plan for ice-hockey center was developed. Business plan is a tool for the author, which represents how the project should be developed during implementation stage. Moreover, this business plan is assumed to be delivered to potential investors. Keywords: business plan, ice-hockey center, ice-hockey infrastructure, sport marketing 2 Table of contents Acknowledgements ............................................................................................. 5 Glossary .............................................................................................................. 6 1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Ice-hockey from the beginning ............................................................... 8 1.1.1 History of ice-hockey in Finland and Russia .................................... 8 1.1.2 Business nature of sport .................................................................. 9 1.2 Objectives ............................................................................................ 11 1.3 Delimitations ........................................................................................ 11 1.3.1 Focus on Finland and Russia ........................................................ 11 1.3.2 Time .............................................................................................. 12 1.3.3 Research methods ........................................................................ 12 1.3.4 Theoretical framework ................................................................... 12 1.3.5 Business plan ................................................................................ 12 1.3.6 Main services ................................................................................ 13 1.4 Limitations ............................................................................................ 13 1.4.1 Finances ........................................................................................ 13 1.4.2 Time .............................................................................................. 14 1.4.3 Right essentials ............................................................................. 14 1.5 Research question ............................................................................... 14 1.6 Research method ................................................................................ 14 1.7 Structure of the thesis .......................................................................... 15 2 Theoretical framework ................................................................................ 16 2.1 Business plan ...................................................................................... 16 2.2 Outline of business plan....................................................................... 17 2.3 Executive summary ............................................................................. 18 2.4 Strategic planning ................................................................................ 18 2.4.1 Mission and vision ......................................................................... 18 2.4.2 Strategic planning tools ................................................................. 19 2.5 Marketing Research ............................................................................. 22 2.5.1 Types of marketing research ......................................................... 23 2.5.2 Marketing research process .......................................................... 27 2.6 Marketing plan ..................................................................................... 28 2.6.1 Market analysis ............................................................................. 30 2.6.2 Products and services ................................................................... 31 2.6.3 Marketing strategy ......................................................................... 31 2.6.4 Pricing strategy.............................................................................. 34 2.7 Financial plan ....................................................................................... 37 2.7.1 Income statement .......................................................................... 38 2.7.2 Cash-flow analysis ........................................................................ 39 2.7.3 Balance sheet ............................................................................... 40 2.7.4 Breakeven analysis ....................................................................... 41 2.7.5 Sources and use of funds .............................................................. 42 2.7.6 Startup costs ................................................................................. 42 2.8 Risk management plan ........................................................................ 42 2.8.1 Risk categories .............................................................................. 43 2.8.2 Stages of risk management ........................................................... 45 2.9 Organizational plan .............................................................................. 49 2.10 Conclusion to theoretical framework .................................................... 49 3 Business plan ............................................................................................. 50 3.1 Executive summary ............................................................................. 50 3 3.1.1 Marketing research ........................................................................ 50 3.1.2 Marketing strategy ......................................................................... 50 3.1.3 Financials ...................................................................................... 51 3.1.4 Risk management ......................................................................... 51 3.2 Business idea description .................................................................... 51 3.3 Industry description .............................................................................. 52 3.3.1 Company description ..................................................................... 52 3.4 Strategic planning ................................................................................ 53 3.4.1 Mission and vision ......................................................................... 53 3.4.2 PESTLE analysis........................................................................... 53 3.5 Marketing research .............................................................................. 57 3.5.1 Results for Finnish ice-hockey clubs ............................................. 58 3.5.2 Results for Russian ice-hockey clubs ............................................ 58 3.6 Marketing plan ..................................................................................... 59 3.6.1 Market analysis ............................................................................. 60 3.6.2 Products and services ................................................................... 64 3.6.3 Marketing strategy ......................................................................... 65 3.6.4 Pricing strategy.............................................................................. 67 3.7 Financial plan ....................................................................................... 67 3.7.1 Startup costs ................................................................................. 67 3.7.2 Income statement .......................................................................... 71 3.7.3 Break-even point analysis ............................................................. 71 3.7.4 Cash-flow analysis ........................................................................ 71 3.7.5 Balance sheet ............................................................................... 71 3.7.6 Source and use of funds ............................................................... 72 3.8 Risk Management plan .......................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Migrants & City-Making
    MIGRANTS & CITY-MAKING This page intentionally left blank MIGRANTS & CITY-MAKING Dispossession, Displacement, and Urban Regeneration Ayşe Çağlar and Nina Glick Schiller Duke University Press • Durham and London • 2018 © 2018 Duke University Press All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper ∞ Typeset in Minion and Trade Gothic type by BW&A Books, Inc. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Çaglar, Ayse, author. | Schiller, Nina Glick, author. Title: Migrants and city-making : multiscalar perspectives on dispossession / Ayse Çaglar and Nina Glick Schiller. Description: Durham : Duke University Press, 2018. | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: lccn 2018004045 (print) | lccn 2018008084 (ebook) | isbn 9780822372011 (ebook) | isbn 9780822370444 (hardcover : alk. paper) | isbn 9780822370567 (pbk. : alk. paper) Subjects: lcsh : Emigration and immigration—Social aspects. | Immigrants—Turkey—Mardin. | Immigrants— New Hampshire—Manchester. | Immigrants—Germany— Halle an der Saale. | City planning—Turkey—Mardin. | City planning—New Hampshire—Manchester. | City planning—Germany—Halle an der Saale. Classification: lcc jv6225 (ebook) | lcc jv6225 .S564 2018 (print) | ddc 305.9/06912091732—dc23 lc record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018004045 Cover art: Multimedia Center, Halle Saale. Photo: Alexander Schieberle, www.alexschieberle.de To our mothers and fathers, Sitare and Adnan Şimşek and Evelyn and Morris Barnett, who understood the importance of having daughters who
    [Show full text]
  • Outline of Business Results for the First Quarter Ended Jun 30,2003
    Outline of Business Results for the First Quarter ended Jun 30,2003 August 1,2003 1 Copyright 2003 by NS Solutions, All rights reserved. FORWARDFORWARD---LOOKINGLOOKING STATEMENTS This document includes statements of forward-looking descriptions regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of NS Solutions Corporation (the “Company”) or its officers in terms of its operation and financial condition. Accordingly, such statements contain risks and uncertainties since they are neither historical facts nor guarantees of future performance. Actual results may be varied and influenced by various factors. The Company does not undertake to revise such forward-looking descriptions to reflect those factors. 2 Copyright 2003 by NS Solutions, All rights reserved. Q1 Net Sales(Consolidated) (Billions of yen) 30.0 24.0 30.0 25.0 Business Solutions16.7 Business 20.0 +4% Solutions10.9 15.0 Platform Platform 10.0 Solutions 5.9 Solutions 5.7 Large scale system development project for public sector 0.5 Business Business Services 7.4 Services 7.4 Q1 Q1 2003.3 2004.3 3 Copyright 2003 by NS Solutions, All rights reserved. Q1 Order accepted and Order Backlog –1 (Consolidated) Billions of yen ①②③①+②-③ Order Backlog Q1 Q1 Order Backlog at beginning of Q1 Order accepted Net Sales at end of Q1 Mar-04 24.5 30.8 24.0 31.4 Mar-03 23.8※ 32.2※ 30.0 26.0 Change + 0.7 ▲ 1.4 ▲ 6.0 + 5.4 ※Each figure includes a large-scale system development project. 4 Copyright 2003 by NS Solutions, All rights reserved. Q1 Order accepted and Order Backlog-2 (Consolidated) 【Breakdown by solutions/service】 Billions of yen ①②③①+②-③ Order Backlog Q1 Q1 Order Backlog at beginning of Q1 Order accepted Net Sales at end of Q1 Mar-04 14.6 18.4 10.9 22.1 Mar-03 14.5※ 18.8※ 16.7 16.6 Business Solutions Change + 0.1 ▲ 0.4 ▲ 5.8 + 5.5 Mar-04 3.1 6.4 5.7 3.8 Mar-03 3.6 6.7 5.9 4.4 Platform Solutions Platform Change ▲ 0.5 ▲ 0.3 ▲ 0.2 ▲ 0.6 Mar-04 6.8 6.1 7.4 5.5 Mar-03 5.7 6.8 7.4 5.1 Business Services Change + 1.1 ▲ 0.7 -+ 0.4 ※This figure includes a large-scale system development project.
    [Show full text]
  • Nordic American Voices Nordic Heritage Museum Seattle, Washington
    Nordic American Voices Nordic Heritage Museum Seattle, Washington Interview of Jorma Salmi February 7, 2014 Bellevue, Washington Interviewers: Gary London; Pirkko Borland Gary London: [0:12] This is an interview for the Nordic American Voices oral history project. Today is February 7 th , 2014, and we’ll be interviewing Jorma Salmi. We are at his home in Bellevue, Washington. My name is Gary London, and with me is Pirkko Borland. Jorma, thank you very much for agreeing to be interviewed. Jorma Salmi: [0:38] Thank you very much for coming to our humble house. Gary: [0:42] Well, I don’t think it’s so humble; it’s a beautiful house. Jorma: [0:44] By American standards, I think it is. Gary: [0:47] It’s a beautiful home. Jorma: [0:48] Thank you. Gary: [0:49] I know you have a very interesting story to tell us. Remember that we want you to talk as much as possible. Jorma: [0:56] Okay. Gary: [0:57] …And us to talk as little as possible. Jorma: [0:58] Okay. Gary: [0:59] So, we’ll ask, occasionally, a question, but we would really like to hear from you. Let’s start, however, with telling us about what you remember about your grandparents. Jorma: [1:14] My grandparents were… he was a… how can I say… he was a… the father was my… he was dead when I was born. He was already… But he had been making bells. Like dinner bells. Nordic American Voices Page 1 of 32 And one of his bells was in the Langinkoski where Charles had a summer home.
    [Show full text]
  • Business Reportwednesday APRIL 16, 2014 RUSSIA&INDIA the ECONOMIC TIMES in ASSOCIATION with ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA, RUSSIA
    in.rbth.com Business ReportWEDNESDAY APRIL 16, 2014 RUSSIA&INDIA THE ECONOMIC TIMES IN ASSOCIATION WITH ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA, RUSSIA DIPLOMACY: Economic rapprochement with the West will continue, but there won’t be blank cheques anymore STATISTICS After Crimea gamble, is Russian Ruble/Rupee dollar rates diplomacy heading for a new era? The Crimea standoff has underlined Moscow’s resolve to draw a line with the West over its vital security interests. Moscow will now be increasingly looking East to protect and promote its economic and geopolitical interests. DMITRY BABICH RIBR Stock Market Index oes Russia have a new diplomacy after its unilateral action in Crimea, Dwhich is seen as “occupation” by the Western powers and as “reunification” by a majority of the Russians and their allies abroad? There are two extremes in answering this question. One is to say that Moscow is trying to recover its old Soviet might, probably even beyond the borders of the former Soviet Union. The other extreme is to say that what happened in Crimea was an “unsuccessful improvisation” and things will soon be back to business as usual – with Russia grudgingly accepting the inclusion into the Western sphere of influence of ever new territories of Putin’s approval rating the former Soviet Union to the tune of talks about “expanding the zone of security and prosperity.” The truth, as always, is between the two extremes. Russia does not want isolation and exclu- sion from the international exchange of la- bour, capitals and knowledge, even though its foes in Euro-Atlantic and EU structures are AP happily tr ying to impose on it just this kind Bold Gamble: Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is poised for a tough diplomatic battle after the controversial Crimea reunification.
    [Show full text]
  • Quantitative Analysis of Business Models and Manufacturing Industry’S Approach to Business
    International Journal of Japan Association for Management Systems Vol. 10 No.1, December 2018, pp. 45-52 Quantitative Analysis of Business Models and Manufacturing Industry’s Approach to Business Tsutomu KONNOa * aFaculty of Business Administration, Kobe Gakuin University 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, 650-8586 Japan Abstract Among the existing body of research focused on business models are studies by Osterwalder (2010), Slywotzky (2002), Yamada (2012), and Matsubara (2014). However, these involved the qualitative classification of company business models. This study quantifies business models and uses data analysis to clarify the key factors that change the business model of a company. Moreover, it uses data to analyze business models in the manufacturing industry and proposes an approach to such business models. Keywords: Business model, Quantitative analysis 1. Introduction certain businesses, its ratio to GDP is declining. While expansion to foreign markets can be foreseen, Senoh’s book (2010) “Why Japan that excels in manufacturing industry that creates new innovation and technology loses in business?” was quite sensational [1]. technology and that has a powerful ripple effect on other The book came out just when companies were struggling industries continues to be important for Japanese to recover from the economic downturn precipitated by economy, more important than the mere figure of 20% of the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy in 2008, and were GDP. In fact, other countries including the US and exploring various solutions. Senoh pointed out in his book Germany have announced policy changes to next- the necessity of Trinity Business Strategy, which consists generation manufacturing industry, and are re-examining of the following.
    [Show full text]
  • Kraft Hockeyville 2020 Canada
    KRAFT HOCKEYVILLE 2020 (the "Competition") OFFICIAL RULES (the “Official Rules”) NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF CANADA, 13 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER Last modified: July 31, 2020. Changes were made to the Phase Dates and Notification Dates below due to the pause in the 2019-2020 NHL season. 1. WHAT IS THE KRAFT HOCKEYVILLE COMPETITION? A Competition designed to find which Canadian hockey community stands above all the others. The Competition aims to rally people together and help protect the future of hockey in Canada, because communities build hockey and hockey builds communities. 2. COMPETITION PERIOD AND PHASES: COMPETITION BEGINS 12:00 A.M. EASTERN TIME (“ET”) ON JANUARY 1, 2020 AND CONTINUES THROUGH 06:00 P.M. ET ON AUGUST 15, 2020.The Competition consists of four (4) phases (each, a "Phase") as set forth in the table below. Phase Start Date End Date Nomination January 1, 2020 February 9, 2020 12:00 a.m. ET 11:59 p.m. ET Judging February 10, 2020 August 1, 2020 Top 4 Announcement & August 2, 2020 August 13, 2020 Rally Period Voting August 14, 2020 August 15, 2020 9:00 a.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 3. TO ENTER AND/OR PARTICIPATE: There are a few ways to participate in the Competition, as outlined below. a. Find your Arena: During the Nomination Phase, first go to www.krafthockeyville.ca (the "Website") and follow the onscreen instructions to find the community page for your local ice hockey arena (“Arena”). If your Arena does not have a community page, follow the links and instructions to create one.
    [Show full text]
  • IIHF 100 Year Review Brochure Cover
    TABLE OF CONTENTS SPORT ACTIVITIES 3 IIHF SKILLS CHALLENGE 3 FIRST WORLD WOMEN ‘S U18 CHAMPIONSHIP 5 IIHF WORLD YOUTH HOCKEY TOURNAMENT 5 IIHF WORLD OLDTIMER ’S TOURNAMENT 6 FIRST VICTORIA CUP 8 OFFICIAL IIHF 100 YEAR LOOK AND FEEL 10 IIHF CENTENNIAL ICE RINK 11 PR ACTIVITIES 14 CENTENNIAL ALL -STAR TEAM 14 100 TOP STORIES – THE FINAL COUNTDOWN 15 COMMEMORATION OF THE VICTORIA SKATING RINK 16 IIHF FOUNDATION GALA 17 PUBLICATIONS 18 IIHF CENTENNIAL BOOK 18 IIHF TOP 100 HOCKEY STORIES OF ALL -TIME 19 RE-LAUNCH WWW.IIHF.COM 20 SPECIAL ACTIVITIES 21 IIHF 100 YEAR EXHIBITIONS 21 ARTS & CULTURE 23 IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE 24 PROJECT MANAGEMENT 25 - Page 2 - SPORT ACTIVITIES IIHF Skills Challenge Season 2007/08 – Worldwide To involve children all over the world in the IIHF 100 th Anniversary, the International Ice Hockey Federation developed a concept of a world wide skills challenge for young male and female ice hockey players up to the age of 15 (1993 born). A global database and website for all test results was supported by video-based test instructions. More than 500 tool kits with shooter tutors had been shipped to the IIHF Member National Associations and the initiative counted more than 4000 participants globally. The IIHF Skills Challenge in Korea 30 IIHF member national associations organized the Skills Challenge tests to determine their most skilled male and female youth ice hockey player. The best players of each participating IIHF member national association were invited to the 2008 IIHF Skills Challenge on the weekend from 2 to 4 May 2008 in Quebec City.
    [Show full text]
  • Buffalo Sabres Digital Press
    Buffalo Sabres Daily Press Clips January 28, 2020 Eichel, Sabres to host the Senators Associated Press January 28, 2020 Ottawa Senators (17-23-9, seventh in the Atlantic Division) vs. Buffalo Sabres (22-20-7, fifth in the Atlantic Division) Buffalo, New York; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Jack Eichel and Buffalo square off against Ottawa. Eichel is ninth in the NHL with 62 points, scoring 28 goals and totaling 34 assists. The Sabres are 11-13-4 against Eastern Conference opponents. Buffalo has converted on 19.2% of power-play opportunities, scoring 28 power-play goals. The Senators are 6-7-4 against the rest of their division. Ottawa leads the league with 10 shorthanded goals, led by Jean-Gabriel Pageau with three. In their last meeting on Dec. 23, Ottawa won 3-1. Pageau totaled two goals for the Senators. TOP PERFORMERS: Eichel has recorded 62 total points while scoring 28 goals and adding 34 assists for the Sabres. Sam Reinhart has totaled six assists over the last 10 games for Buffalo. Thomas Chabot leads the Senators with 23 total assists and has collected 27 points. Chris Tierney has five goals and one assist over the last 10 games for Ottawa. LAST 10 GAMES: Senators: 1-5-4, averaging 2.4 goals, 3.7 assists, 3.3 penalties and nine penalty minutes while giving up 3.6 goals per game with a .898 save percentage. Sabres: 5-5-0, averaging three goals, 4.9 assists, 3.8 penalties and 9.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game with a .906 save percentage.
    [Show full text]
  • Jets Enter Free Agency with Distinct Needs
    Winnipeg Sun http://www.winnipegsun.com/2017/06/29/jets-enter-free-agency-with-distinct-needs Jets enter free agency with distinct needs BY KEN WIEBE, WINNIPEG SUN Kevin Cheveldayoff is well aware the clock is ticking and the free agency bell is about to ring. The courting period has provided the Winnipeg Jets with the opportunity to express interest in several players they'd like to pursue come Saturday when the window to sign unrestricted free agents officially opens. Several players — including goalies Steve Mason and Brian Elliott and defenceman Karl Alzner, among others — have at least demonstrated some level of interest in joining the Jets. It's important to remember: for agents, the courting period is the time to drum up additional interest for the client. And a lot can happen between now and Saturday. Another team can swoop in with a bigger offer or provide an additional year or higher dollar amount to seal the deal. But the Jets go into this weekend with two distinct needs at the top of the wish list: an experienced starting goalie to share the net with Connor Hellebuyck and a defenceman who can play the left side, preferably a left-handed shooter. Historically, the Jets haven't been a team to swing for the fences or overpay to land a marquee name on July 1. Veteran centre Olli Jokinen was a place-holder and his signing in 2012 allowed Mark Scheifele to get some additional seasoning at the junior level before he was ready to be a full-time NHLer.
    [Show full text]
  • Skin in the Game: Providing Redress for American Sports' Appropriation of Native American Iconography Geraud Blanks University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
    University of Wisconsin Milwaukee UWM Digital Commons Theses and Dissertations August 2016 Skin in the Game: Providing Redress for American Sports' Appropriation of Native American Iconography Geraud Blanks University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.uwm.edu/etd Part of the History Commons, Indigenous Studies Commons, and the Law Commons Recommended Citation Blanks, Geraud, "Skin in the Game: Providing Redress for American Sports' Appropriation of Native American Iconography" (2016). Theses and Dissertations. 1254. https://dc.uwm.edu/etd/1254 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by UWM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UWM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SKIN IN THE GAME: PROVIDING REDRESS FOR AMERICAN SPORTS' APPROPRIATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN ICONOGRAPHY by Geraud Blanks A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Media Studies at The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee August 2016 ABSTRACT SKIN IN THE GAME: PROVIDING REDRESS FOR AMERICAN SPORTS' APPROPRIATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN ICONOGRAPHY by Geraud Blanks The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2016 Under the Supervision of David Pritchard To date, legal efforts to eradicate the use of Native American iconography in American sports have focused on the concept of Indian nicknames as disparaging terms, and Indian mascots as harmful images. But subjective claims of harm are hard to prove and are often thwarted by First Amendment protections, because judges remain reluctant to regulate expressive and commercial freedom of speech based on offense.
    [Show full text]
  • Ferent Ice Hockey Arena Dasher Boards
    1 COMPARISON OF IMPACT CHARACTERISTICS OF DIF- FERENT ICE HOCKEY ARENA DASHER BOARDS Piritta Poutiainen Master Thesis in Biomechanics Spring 2012 Department of Biology of Physi- cal Activity University of Jyväskylä Supervisor: Janne Avela 2 ABSTRACT Poutiainen, Piritta 2012. Comparison of impact characteristics of different ice hockey arena dasher boards. Department of Biology of Physical Activity, Universi- ty of Jyväskylä. Master´s Thesis in Biomechanics, 65 pp. During last years the incidence and severity of ice hockey related concussions have been increased and, hence, something should be done to stop this growth. The main aim of this study was to find out how dasher board materials and structures affect impact characteristics and, thereby, the risk of concussions. The measurements were divided into two parts; in the first part, the physiological characteristics of body checks were determined in real game measurements, and the second part, consisted of simulation of body checks in the laboratory. High speed cameras and accelerometers were used to collect data. More flexible protective shielding material (dasher board B) resulted in lower peak force and stiffness as well as greater stopping distance compared to the other dasher boards. However, the dasher board with flexible protective shielding material including shielding supporting posts resulted to be non-consistent and, thereby, that kind of dasher boards cannot be classified as safe ones. Single-framed dasher board was detected to be more flexible than dual-framed counterpart and heavier protective shield- ing resulted in significantly higher element stiffness (p < .05). With this study it was shown that modification of the materials and structures of the dasher boards give an opportunity to affect impact characteristics and, thereby, the concussion risk.
    [Show full text]
  • Sam Walker April 23, 2018 My Ego Demands – for Myself – the Success of My Team
    What is the Hidden Force that Creates the World’s Greatest Teams? Exploring Leadership in Sports | Sam Walker April 23, 2018 My ego demands – for myself – the success of my team. INTRODUCTION – Bill Russell What’s up everybody? Welcome to this week’s episode of Hidden Forces with me, Demetri Kofinas. Today, I speak with Sam Walker, the Wall Street Journal’s deputy editor for enterprise, the unit that directs the paper’s in-depth page-one features and investigative reporting projects. A former reporter, sports columnist, and sports editor, Walker founded the Journal’s prizewinning daily sports coverage in 2009. Sam is also the author of "The Captain Class: The Hidden Force That Creates the World's Greatest Teams." In addition to The Captain Class, he is the author of Fantasyland, a bestselling account of his attempt to win America’s top fantasy baseball expert competition (of which he is a two-time champion). Sam, welcome to Hidden Forces… WHY DO I CARE? Human beings gravitate naturally towards sports. We love to compete. But our love-affair with athletic performance is not just about rivalry or competition. It’s about so much more. As our lives becomes increasingly intermediated by computer interfaces, spectator sports provide one of the few remaining ways to experience the elegance and power of the human body. In a world that is constantly changing, sports are a window into the old. They offer us a glimpse at millions of years of evolution – the impulses, characteristics, and behavioral urges of our ancestors. In this sense, what interests me most about Sam’s book is that it provides insight about how human beings organize successfully into groups and the unique (and Sam would argue crucial) role of leadership and stewardship in those groups.
    [Show full text]