What a weak capitulation by the Indian cricket team this summer! When they arrived here they were rated as the best team in the world, but after 4 pretty abject performances it is difficult to think of them as being in the top 5. So what has become of them, and how have England (2 years ago rated as 6th in the world) turned things around so dramatically? For me it is all down to hard work and professionalism.

In some ways it is strange to see an England team showing these traits. The traditional English way, now curiously adopted by the Indians is to believe in your own talent, assume you are better than the opposition, turn up on the day, and trust that everything will go your way. Practising, turning up on time and being professional in every aspect of what you do, used to be seen as rather “vulgar”, and only something that people less talented than yourself needed to do. However, it has been proven once again (as it did with the England rugby squad under Sir Clive Woodward) that there is no substitute for true, thorough and complete professionalism. Hard work, practice and leaving nothing to chance is the way of winners. There is no such thing as “luck”, it is everything you do up to the event, and everything that you prepare before, during and after, which creates a situation which apparently allows “lucky” outcomes.

The point naturally enough is, that business is exactly the same. Don’t take rash chances with your business, and prepare for opportunities and eventualities, so that when things happen, good or bad, you are ready to deal with them. Professionalism in everything you do should be what you are striving for. Of course people who are jealous of you may scorn you for doing things in a way which they consider grandiose or unnecessary, but it is no co-incidence that all the most successful businesses are those who practice professionalism and hard work all the time.