March Madness, Motivation, and the Blue-Collar Business Owner
There’s something electric about March Madness. The buzzer-beaters. The Cinderella stories. The raw emotion of a 12-seed knocking off a powerhouse. It’s chaotic, passionate, and unrelenting—just like being a business owner or leader in today’s blue-collar world.
You sit on the edge of your seat watching these kids—some of whom will never sniff the NBA—give everything they’ve got. Why? Because they believe. They believe in each other, in their coach, and in the process. And that belief? That drive? That’s the same fire you need to fuel in your team if you want to build something that lasts.
Be the Coach, Not Just the Boss
You don’t build a tournament-winning program by accident. It’s not all about the five-star recruits or the flashiest plays. It’s about culture. Leadership. Motivation. And knowing when to lean in with intensity—or when to pull back and bring calm.
As a business owner, you’ve got to be more than a title. You’ve got to coach. That means understanding your people on a human level. What drives them? What do they fear? How do they handle pressure? One guy might need a fire lit under him. Another needs someone to believe in him before he can believe in himself.
You’ve got to show up with emotional intelligence, not just technical knowledge. EQ isn’t just some buzzword from a corporate retreat—it’s the key to unlocking potential in your crew. When your team knows you
see them and
hear them, they’ll run through walls for you. That’s how underdogs become contenders.
Build Your Program—Not Just a Business
Here’s what separates the one-hit wonders from the dynasties: they build a program. That means having a repeatable, sustainable process that doesn’t depend on having the “best players” every time.
Here’s what separates the one-hit wonders from the dynasties: they build a program. That means having a repeatable, sustainable process that doesn’t depend on having the “best players” every time.
Your business might not have the most experienced technicians. Your customer service might not be gold-plated. But if you’ve got a clear process, accountability, and a culture of relentless improvement, you can still go out and win the day—every day.
I’ve seen businesses with average talent beat giants simply because they were aligned. Everyone knew the mission. Everyone knew their role. And everyone knew that
the system works. That’s not magic. That’s leadership.
Control the Controllables
March Madness is full of moments that’ll make you throw your remote through the TV. A phantom foul. A bad bounce. A TV timeout killing your momentum.
Guess what? You can’t control any of that. You can’t control the refs. You can’t control the ball. You can’t control what surprises you find when you open up a wall on a remodeling job.
But you can control how you respond.
Your team feeds off your energy. If you lose your cool over every bad call or every unexpected issue, they’ll follow you straight into chaos. Sometimes, you need to bring the fire—rally the troops, show some passion. Other times, you need to be the calm in the storm, reminding everyone that we’ve been here before and we’ll get through it.
Here’s a real-world example: You present a significant change order to a customer. You can’t control what’s behind the drywall. But you
can control how you explain the situation. Are you positioning it as a necessary evil—or an opportunity to prevent disaster and deliver a better solution? The right approach can be the difference between a pissed-off customer and a lifelong one.
Every Game Is a Lesson
Whether you win or lose, there’s always something to take away.
That’s what the best coaches do—they use every game to teach. It’s not just about points on the board. It’s about poise. Emotional control. Communication. Body language. Situational awareness.
Your job as a leader is to turn every day into a teaching moment. Whether it’s a near-miss on a safety issue or a five-star review from a client, use it. Talk about it. Learn from it. Because your team is always watching you.
Blue-collar businesses are facing a generational shift. The days are getting longer, the teams are getting younger, and the expectations are rising. These younger workers? They’re not wired like the Boomers or even the older Millennials. They want purpose. Feedback. Connection.
Your job? Meet them where they are. Show them what greatness looks like and give them a path to get there. Set the expectation, then coach them up. Don’t just bark orders—build people.
Take Notes from the Madness
Look—we’ve just watched 40 games in four days. That’s 40 opportunities to learn something as a fan, a leader, and a builder of culture.
Watch the bench players cheering louder than anyone else. See how the coach uses timeouts to reset momentum. Notice how the best teams don’t always win because they’re more talented—they win because they’re more prepared, more disciplined, and more connected.
That’s your blueprint. Take that into your business. Into your shop. Into your job site.
Final Buzzer
March Madness isn’t just about basketball. It’s about belief. Passion. Resilience. It’s a masterclass in leadership under pressure.
So next time you’re watching a game and some unknown school is taking down a top seed, ask yourself: Why? What are they doing differently? And how can I bring that same grit, focus, and leadership into my business?
Because in the world of blue-collar business, every day is game day. And just like the tournament, you don’t need to be the biggest or flashiest team to cut down the nets.
You just need to show up, lead like hell, and trust the process.
Let’s go win one for the crew.
Ready to take your blue-collar business to the next level?
If you're fired up and want help building your winning program—whether that’s leadership coaching, team development, or process clarity—let’s talk.
👉 Reach out to me at BHerda@FocalPointCoaching.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.
Let’s cut down the nets together.
—Brad
