{"id":4507,"date":"2021-07-16T11:28:53","date_gmt":"2021-07-16T11:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oneaccounting.co.uk\/?p=4507"},"modified":"2023-01-02T01:49:59","modified_gmt":"2023-01-02T01:49:59","slug":"why-running-a-business-is-like-a-game-of-cricket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oneaccounting.co.uk\/why-running-a-business-is-like-a-game-of-cricket\/","title":{"rendered":"Why running a business is like a game of Cricket"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Summer is well and truly here. The parks up and down the country have the familiar sight of a game of cricket at the weekend. Which got me thinking. Running a business is just like cricket.<\/p>\n

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Now, if you don’t like or understand cricket, or have an interest in the benefits of being consistent, then you will have to stick with me on this one. A cricket game can last for up to 5 days. It is the only recognised sport in the world that has scheduled meal breaks. To the untrained eye, not a lot happens. For most of the time.<\/p>\n

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But dig a little deeper, and there are a lot of parallels with running a business, or to be more exact, how you get things done <\/em>in a business.<\/p>\n

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The Target<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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Let me use the example of our own accounting firm. Every year we have to prepare and file a few hundred self-assessment tax returns<\/a> for our clients. The filing window runs from 6th April to the 31st January the following year. So we have a starting point (zero) and an end target (lets say 350) that we have a set period of time to complete all the work. Cricket is the same. The side batting second knows the target number of runs that it needs to score to win the game<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Ones and Twos<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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In cricket, there are usually some easier shots where you don’t have to hit the ball too hard to score one run, or two if you place your shot well. Same for a business. There are some easier pieces of work you can achieve which all add revenue, or help you towards a target. Sell a few small items or complete a simple salary & dividend tax return. Not too exciting, but you need to be focused and alert to get that done.<\/p>\n

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Beware of drifting….<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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Sometimes during a game of cricket, nothing happens. The batsmen go into their shell. Half an hour goes by without a run being scored. This is what gives the sport a bad name. This can happen in business too. You wake up on a Monday feeling lethargic so you choose a few easy things to do.<\/p>\n