The Game: What Basketball Taught Me About Business

Josh Haymond

Josh Haymond

Vaco Managing Partner | Beyond Basketball Founder | Investor | Coach

Published May 20,

Basketball was my first passion.

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At 3 years old, my dad got me a Larry Bird basketball goal (the only goal I could consistently dunk, I might add). At 5, I joined my first team at Millbrook Exchange Park - the Killer Bees, and the rest was history. Though I was atrocious outside of being a foot taller than everyone in the league, I fell in love with the game and wanted to be a better player.

On the weekends I spent with my father, we went to the “Honey Hole”. I sat dribbling on the sideline looking forward to my chance to get in the game. When my mother travelled, I went to my grandparents' house and plead to stay up as late as possible watching the early 90’s Knicks with my grandfather.

I packed two extra shirts each day – one after early morning care and one after recess, both times drenched from schoolyard battles on the court. I finished my homework during school so I play ball when I got home. My wardrobe was consistently basketball shoes, shorts, and jerseys. When we wrote letters to a celebrity in 2nd grade, my letter was addressed to Shaq.

In 3rd grade, we moved to a new neighborhood. I dribbled in the pouring rain with a tennis ball to improve my left hand as my dad suggested. The next day at the bus stop my classmates didn’t understand what was motivating me and at the time I didn’t know how to verbalize it – I assumed I was doing what I needed to do to be successful.

Around this time, I began tracking my workouts in a notebook. Gone were the days of casually shooting around. As I matured, my commitment to the game only became stronger. My friends were inevitably tied to the game as that is what I wanted to spend my time doing. In high school, I was tight with the janitor to get as much gym time as possible. I wouldn’t allow my coaches to tell me “no” when I wanted to work out. It maddened me when I saw teammates goofing off in the gym.

After a successful run in high school I attempted to play in college. After just one season in college, my body cared less about my goals as a basketball player, and my life as I knew it was turned upside down when I could no longer stand on the court – literally and figuratively.

For 10 years, I closed the game off - I didn’t watch basketball, I didn’t play basketball, I didn’t coach basketball. It was too painful for me to be close to the game without being in the game.

It wasn’t until this past year where I began going up to my high school to help out when time allowed. My love for the game came rushing back and I had finally found my service, something many of us spend years trying to find that purpose outside of career and family.

Getting a chance to work with some of the boys on the softer side of the game, much of which surrounds around the level of commitment needed to be successful, made me realize that though I had not been on the court in years, many of the attributes I learned from the game helped mold me in to professional I am today.

• Value efficiency – I often hear people clamoring about a lack of opportunities. My reply is simple – do the most with the opportunities you receive and you will receive more opportunities. If you are 25% from the field, get your percentage up to 50% before you command more touches. Create your own opportunities through efficiency.
• Preparation is key – My high school coach made us watch film after every game and also watch film on our opponents (at the time, very few high school programs were doing so). Before a meeting, I research the client’s background as well as the company background, getting up to speed on any public information available so I am able to establish credibility and engage in meaningful dialogue. Repetition leads to mastery.
• Every team needs role players – Know the strengths of each of your teammates and leverage those strengths. Everyone on the team cannot be the vocal leader. Everyone cannot score 25 per game. Build a team of people who know their boundaries and are comfortable playing the role needed to move the team forward.
• Know your limitations – To be successful, you must take care of your body and mind. Now, at the end of the day and end of the week, I recognize that I must allow my mind to rest to be fresh for the next. In a client service business, there is a constant balance of ensuring my clients don’t feel a lapse in service, while making sure I can be present with my family.
• Set the tone – The first quarter of the game is when I took it upon myself to crush the will of my opponent. I consistently had double figures in the 1st quarter before allowing others to get off once the game was in hand. I didn’t need to continue shooting the basketball, as I needed others to feel comfortable scoring so they could rise to the occasion when I faced a box-and-1. In business, every day I look to set the tone for my team at Vaco, hoping my energy, pace and intensity spreads to others in the stable - even more important on a Monday!
• The stakes are always high – Every game is important. Every client interaction is important. Losing in situations where you should have won hurts far more than losing in 50/50 situations. Treat every opportunity to compete with the mentality that it may be the last time. I never treat a smaller client lesser than a large client. Each time I place a professional, my name is on the line.
• What you do when no one is watching sets you apart – Be wary of those who feel the need to be recognized when they are working. Those who believe they can cheat the system and skip the grunt work won’t last when times get tough or in the business world, when the economy dips. I was always the first to arrive and the last to leave and would work on my weaknesses during those times so I was more comfortable come game day.
• Reward effort – When my teammates are bringing effort and adding value is when positive affirmation becomes fun to give. A high school teammate of mine, C.E., always had a phenomenal motor. He was the “grunt” who rebounded, played great defense, took charges, roughed up the other team’s best post player, and brought unlimited energy to the team. When he ran the floor and I had the chance to get him the ball for an easy bucket, it was a no brainer to wet his beak.
• Be a student of the game – Listen and learn from those who came before you. I invest myself in what I am doing. I wanted to learn ways to be more successful on the court and craftier with what tools I was given. Now, I bring that interest and desire to learn more about the “the game” rather than just “the job.”
• Stay positive in a slump – My M.O. was my ability to score. If ever I was in a slump, it was imperative I changed my mind from frustration to understanding my desire to be successful would win out rather than to succumb to the slump. In business, there are frequently days or even weeks where everything seems to go out of my favor, but I must stay on the horse. Shooters need to keep shooting.
• Take ownership of mistakes – I am the first to let my teammates know when I forced a shot or turned the ball trying to create too much. In the business world, I often swallow my pride and admit mistakes, letting my clients know that I know I could have done differently the next time around. Vulnerability isn’t weakness.
• Write goals down – Before my senior season, I wrote down that I wanted to be the conference player of the year and it happened. As I moved in my career, I have consistently written down annual goals and held myself accountable to those goals. In my first year at Vaco, my goal was to be the top producer in my line of service – I came in 2nd place, and have used that “failure” to fuel my annual goals since. I am not fearful that I will not reach my goals – if I am not outside of my comfort zone, I am not pushing myself enough.
• Embrace unpredictability – In sports and business, anything can and will happen when we least expect it. A teammate gets injured and cannot push through, or a candidate accepts a counter-offer from their current employer. In all unexpected situations, it is imperative to slow down and think big picture – life goes on. How we react to adversity is how we earn the most respect from the people surrounding us.
• Understand the importance of receiving feedback – Former athletes (musicians, etc.) fare well in most work environments because they are used to being told what they are doing wrong, often in far less politically correct ways than feedback from a boss. In my sophomore year where I was at the bottom of the totem pole, I consistently felt singled out by my coaches – it wasn’t until the following season when I realized how much I learned from that difficult but critique-laden year.
• Understand the important of giving feedback – I consistently see the high school players I work with get frustrated with one another when someone makes a mistake, the vicious cycle of passive-aggressiveness that builds over time. Instead, I tell the boys to let their teammate know what they could have done better while being mindful of the tone and body language they are projecting when delivering feedback. I provide direct constructive feedback and work with my teammates on ways to improve those weaknesses so they feel adequately supported in the progression life-cycle.   
• How you react to losses defines you more than the wins – It’s easy to debrief after a win, but losing can be a difficult pill to swallow. We can choose to ignore the loss, or instead reverse engineer what, individually, we could have done better to win the next time around. There is always a next game, or a next deal, and how you show humility and bounce back from an adverse result speaks volumes of an individual.
• Victory is truly thrilling – The taste after a big win made me want to work harder for the next battle, and that feeling still gives me the same chills when I am able to help a client find the right individual for a project or position, and on the flip side help that individual find a place where they can continue to grow.
• There is no end goal – Never have I “made it.” No matter what accolades one receives in sports or business, there is always room for improvement. I continuously look for ways to improve my game to make myself a better teammate, leader and partner to those I work with. The moment the growth and development ceases is the moment when I become stagnant and competition is making up ground.

In the words of Notorious B.I.G. “if the game shakes me or breaks me, I hope it makes me a better man.” I can emphatically state that the game of basketball made me better, and for that I will continue to pay the game homage.

Be well,

Josh

Originally published at www.joshhaymond.com.

7 Things People Forget to Consider When Choosing an Outdoor Basketball Hoop

A basketball hoop is not only aesthetically pleasing but also adds value to your home. Having a personal basketball hoop can be very exciting. All that shooting, dunking, and playing games is a fun way of getting the family together and spending quality time with them- something that you cherish forever.

It's not until you start the actual purchasing process, that you realize the amount of detail that goes into that seemingly simple basketball hoop. We know that the process can be overwhelming with so much information and detail.

The company is the world’s best Basketball Goal supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

For this reason, we have compiled 7 factors that you need to keep in mind before going for your outdoor basketball hoop shopping.

1. THE RIGHT KIND OF BASKETBALL HOOP

When you are going to survey the market for a basketball hoop, you will find out that there is a range of hoops with specialized features for different purposes and to cater to various needs. You must be well informed about these types.

There are three kinds of basketball hoops that you will find in the market.

• IN-GROUND HOOPS: This type of hoop is fastened into the ground with cement, making it a good option for families who expect this to be a part of their families for many years to come. A lot of these hoops come with adjustable height to accommodate players of different sizes and skills.
• PORTABLE HOOPS: These units have wheels for portability to easily move them around to accommodate your needs. Portable hoops have bases that range in size and capacity, usually between 27 and 42 gallons, while others come with a base to be weighed down with other materials. These too sometimes come with height adjustability settings to cater to different preferences.
• WALL MOUNTED HOOPS: These hoops are typically a backboard and hoop mounted onto a structure, like a garage or exterior wall of your home. These hoops are most stable among all types and also allows you to make a court with limited room. These are usually set at a fixed height, though some can be adjusted.

2. THE BACKBOARD SIZE

The right backboard material and size is crucial to the success of this project. The size of the backboard is going to affect your performance. The sizes can range from 44" up to 72", which is the regulation size for high schools, colleges, and at a professional level. The smaller-sized backboards, typically 54", save space and are good for a small one or two-car driveway. The 60" backboard is a great midway point, saving space but still offering a larger size for banking shots.

Backboards generally come in two shapes - rectangular and fan-shaped. Rectangle backboards are more common and offer players more space to spin the ball off the glass. The fan-shaped board tends to take less space. If you can afford it, go with a rectangle backboard since it's the standard you see at the middle school, high school, college, and pro levels.

3. THE STABILITY AND SAFETY FACTOR

If you were to ignore everything and still want to consider just one thing, then this is it. You want to make sure that your basketball space is risk-free and safe for everyone including your children. Not to mention, stability allows for the most realistic results when shooting -- a shaky rim can cause the ball to bounce out and the backboard to require a different feel for layups and bank shots.

Certain factors that ensure that your basketball hoop is sturdy and stable include:

• One-piece pole: Some in-ground systems have two or three-piece poles. For maximum stability, the one-piece pole is more resistant to vibration and shake. It will also better handle those inevitable dunk sessions by the entire neighborhood.
• Shape of the pole: Basketball poles come in single or multi-piece systems and square or round poles. A square pole offers the most rigidity or stiffness for your basketball system.
• Attachment brackets: You want to avoid narrow attachment brackets. Some hoops have narrow brackets that attach the backboard. This greatly minimizes stability and increases backboard shake which you don't want. Generally, a steel frame with sturdy wide-angled attachment arms for the backboard will ensure your hoop is providing the best possible feedback to players by reducing backboard torque.
• Steel thickness. You need strong components and sufficient steel thickness for stability. Generally speaking, 7-gauge steel is about the right thickness without overdoing it, yet making a very stable pole. Many poles use 11-gauge steel, where 7-gauge is 1.5X thicker than 11 gauge.
• Proper Installation: Installing the in-ground anchor is critical to the overall stability of your system so the proper depth of the hole and leveling the anchor is very important.

For extra caution, basketball hoop safety padding is an excellent way to make gameplay safer and more spirited than before. For safety reasons, you need to look into basketball pole padding and ballast box padding (if you have a portable hoop) for enhanced safety during the most intense games. Consider a soft, cushioned basketball padding to protect players.

4. THE SUN FACTOR

This factor is exclusive for in-ground and outdoor wall-mount hoops. When picking your location to install the hoop, don't forget to consider the sun. Go into your driveway late in the day and see where the sun is going down and how that might impact your ability to shoot based on where the hoop would be. Ideally, you should face the hoop towards the north to make sure you have the sun behind your back as much as possible. There is nothing worse than throwing hoops with the sun in your eyes.

5. HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT

Height adjustability is especially important for families that want their goal to grow with their children. This premium feature allows you to adjust the height of your rim from the NCCA and NBA regulation- height of 10' down to 7.5' for younger players. Some adjustable basketball hoops allow you to lower to 6'. Which many young kids love when dunking for fun and mimicking their favorite NBA and WNBA players. Not to forget that a hoop lowered to 6' is a safety hazard when backing a car (and particularly trucks) out of your garage. So be careful when leaving if lowered!

6. OVERHANG DISTANCE

Overhang is the measured distance from the front of the main pole (or wall plate) to the front of the backboard. Overhang distance is going to impact the space you have to work with and the players that use the hoop. Regulation overhang is considered 4 feet. Many players prefer a 5-foot overhang to give some distance from the main pole to the baseline.

When it comes to playing, the more overhang the better (as long as the hoop system is designed and built to handle it without losing stability). More overhang is preferred because this offsets the pole further from the playing area. If there's a small amount of overhang, then it's both annoying and somewhat dangerous when shooting layups and playing games like 1v1 since it's easier to run into the pole. If there is plenty of overhang, then the pole is further away and you don't have to worry about hitting it when shooting full speed layups. For good balance and safety, 2 feet to 4 feet of overhang is ideal. Anything greater than that could cause shaking because the weight of the backboard would be suspended too far.

You can use our basketball hoop comparison tool to see how the overhang and pole size varies depending on the size of the hoop.

7. INSTALLATION- DIY VS HIRE A PROFESSIONAL

There are a few things to look out for when considering a DIY hoop installation versus having a professional to install your new hoop. Consider these points before choosing the right option for yourself.

• Do you have time? the amount of time involved in researching and understanding what needs to be done can be seriously underestimated. Assess how much time you have and how much time the project will take and whether or not it's worth it for you to handle the job on your own.
• Are you good at following instructions? Let's face it, not all of us great at following instructions. A lot of mistakes can be made due to our impatience and our need to go on gut instinct.
• Installation tools: If you have proper equipment which includes a backhoe or post hole digger, leveling equipment, cement mixture, then it can be a doable DIY project. But if keeping costs low is a priority then you might want to reconsider your options here.
• Are you patient? On average, installation is going to take two working days with three to four waiting days in between. Sometimes, we seriously overestimate our patience level when it comes to completing tasks around the house. If you are an impatient person, this might not be the job for you considering the amount of potential errors you can make.
• Do you have extra help? On your first day of this DIY project, you will be digging around 4' deep and 18'' around the hole. On your second day of work, the pole and backboard are installed on the anchor which will call for some certain outside assistance. If you don't have the chance to find some help, then this idea better be revised.

For the majority of us, having a professional install our new hoop will save us time. On average, installation will cost around $450.00 for an inground system if you have it professionally installed. This usually includes two trips, labor and materials. Roof and wall-mounted basketball systems can sometimes cost less because there's no material cost and assembly can be done in only one trip.

For more information, please visit Sports Equipment & Accessories.

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