There are two types of people who are willing to jump into the Shark Tank: those who seek instant gratification, and those who know better. The former are the people with dollar signs in their eyes who fully expect to get handed a multi-million dollar check for an idea that either hasn’t been thought through, or just doesn’t have legs. The latter are those who have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into a business that has great potential, but needs financial backing to succeed.
And although it makes for compelling television to see an overconfident wannabe entrepreneur receive a dose of reality, what I like is when a hardworking, hungry person gets a bite. One of the best example was Shelly Ehler, inventor of Show No Towels. When she approached the sharks with her idea of a poncho-like towel that helps children discreetly change out of their wet bathing suits, she caught their interest immediately. Not just because the product had marketing potential (she had already been in talks with Disney), but because of her passion.
Using her adorable children as models, the mom of two explained that she made each towel by hand and did all of her own sales and marketing. To pony up for the expensive patent, she sewed drapes for a neighbor who happened to be a patent attorney. As she pled her case, it quickly became evident that even though the towels had only amassed $15K in sales, the sky was the limit with someone as hungry as Ehler. She accepted an offer with Lori Greiner, the “Queen of QVC,” and eventually signed a licensing deal with a large towel manufacturer.
What really struck me was that if it had been anyone else peddling the same product — someone who lacked Ehler’s ambition and passion — it may have easily tanked, but she wasn’t going to let that happen.
It reminded me of a quote I recently heard from Duke University men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski: “I’d take a 2-star recruit with a 5-star work ethic over a 5-star recruit with a 2-star work ethic any day.” And that isn’t just lip service. The team he recently coached to a NCAA championship (the fifth under his tenure) included three freshmen starters, because to Coach K, the only thing that matters is putting the best, most driven players on the court, regardless of experience.
“A hard work ethic forges strong leaders,” he once said.
It can also help build team chemistry, and propel a player who might’ve been overlooked into the spotlight. This was the case for Victor Cruz. Although the affable NY Giants receiver now has a reputation as one of the league’s best, there was a time not so long ago when it appeared an NFL career was out of his reach.
He wasn’t exactly a blue chip recruit coming out of the Big Ten; Cruz had a respectable career at the University of Massachusetts, but he wasn’t being courted by the top teams — or any team, for that matter. But what he lacked in recognition, he made up for in hunger. First, the undrafted free agent forced his way into the Giants’ preseason squad, where he impressed coaches, opponents, and even Lebron James with his speed and agility. Still, it only earned him a spot as the team’s fourth wide receiver, until QB Eli Manning called one day inviting him to participate in a series of volunteer workouts during the NFL lockout. Cruz used the workouts as an opportunity to take advantage of quality time with Manning “that he would have never seen in a minicamp or training camp practice,” according to a report. He “picked Manning’s brain, trying to soak up as much of the quarterback’s knowledge of the Giants offense as possible while working on his route running.”
Nine months later, Cruz capped off a stellar season by catching a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl. Not bad for an undrafted kid from Paterson, N.J.
But even after excelling on the biggest stage in sports, Cruz didn’t lose focus — even when he was offered the opportunity to show off his salsa moves on Dancing with the Stars. Because to him, putting in that much time in something other than football, his passion, didn’t feel right.
Sounds pretty shark-like to me.
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