As a professional business owner there’s always a lot you can learn from elite athletes.

Last week I was intrigued by an interview on Sky Sports News with English Premier League star, Virgil van Dijk.

The Liverpool defender was talking about the personal challenges he faces while competing for multiple trophies.

He said ‘When you’re playing two games a week you need to look after yourself.

If you want to play your best game, you must consider the physical and mental elements.’

‘You have to eat well.

Sleep well.

You need to rest up and recover.

And then there’s the mental side.

Despite playing under immense pressure, you have to stay calm.

You need a cool head, but also be very sharp at the same time.

It sounds very easy to say, but it takes an enormous amount of focus.’

Wise words from Virgil.

And it got me thinking about what you could learn from him, as a business owner.

If you want to be an ‘elite retailer’, shouldn’t you be doing the same?

All too often you probably find yourself doing the complete opposite.

Doing way too much.

Working too hard.

Not taking time out.

Not getting the rest you should.

Not taking the time to recover.

Burning out.

Not being the best version of you.

Not getting the correct recovery that allows you to show up in your business, the way elite athletes show up for their big games.

So, why not start thinking like an elite athlete?

Your customers will benefit.

Your team will benefit.

Your business will benefit.

It sounds easy to say.

But as Virgil Van Dijk noted, it requires an enormous amount of focus to pull it off.

It will, however, be the difference between being great and being average.

Great advice from Virgil - and that’s hard for me to say as a Newcastle United Fan.

Have a great week.

Mark