Unless you’ve been living in a cave somewhere with Osama Bin Laden, chances are you’ve heard the buzz about LeBron James.

James is the NBA basketball star and free agent that has captured attention and headlines across the country as we anxiously awaited his decision as to where he would continue his NBA career this fall.

Having grown up in the Cleveland area, you can imagine how I feel about his choice. As I sat and watched what amounted to little more than a LeBron infomercial on ESPN, I felt both saddened and angered by the self-proclaimed “King’s” decision to leave the Cavaliers.

His choice wasn’t about the money — it was about winning. And, despite my growing feelings of resentment for being abandoned by our hometown hero, I managed to find a blog post among the headlines. Indulge me a moment, and I promise I’ll drive it home.

James feels that his chances of claiming a championship will be better if he jumps ship and heads to South Beach. Of course, his fans and teammates sorely disagree. In an open letter to Cavaliers fans, owner Dan Gilbert summarized this nicely — “Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.”

The sentiment really got me thinking — over the years I’ve known and worked with business owners who had a similar approach to success. They wanted to start a business and magically be able to quit their day job overnight.

Sorry to be the voice of reality here, but it just isn’t going to happen that way.

Eddie Cantor once said, “It takes 20 years to become an overnight success.” The path to success is paved with hard work, determination and sacrifice. True, James has put in the requisite ingredients in his seven years with the Cavs; however, the fact that the championship eluded them this year shouldn’t be the impetus to jump ship. Historically, basketball greats just don’t do that — and even this die-hard hockey fan can rattle off a few names without thinking too hard.

All this to say perhaps that’s why those who previously supported James both on and off the court are now turning his jersey into briquettes.

But I promised you I’d get back on point.

As a startup business, the odds are stacked against you. A full 50% of new businesses fail within the first five years. Knowing this, it would be easy to throw in the towel and head for the showers. Or worse yet, perhaps these figures would keep you on the bench, without ever even giving it a fair shot.

Nothing worth having is easy. If starting and operating a business were easy, everyone would be doing it. It takes a special kind of person to take on the task of becoming an entrepreneur. Ask a successful business owner to share their recipe for success, and you’re likely to hear about long days, sleepless nights, and determination in the face of failure.

Business isn’t all that different from basketball — and many of the same rules apply.

Look for the Assist:
Whether you are on or off the court, no man is an island. Look for a teammate to help share the load. Consider seeking out a mentor like SCORE or your local chamber of commerce to help you address areas in which you may be unfamiliar.

Maintain Court Vision:
Don’t lose sight of what’s going on around you. You’ll have a clearer view of your teammates, as well as the threats around you, and you’ll be able to make better decisions based on this information.

Know When to Call a Timeout:
Even the best playbooks have to be amended. Whether you are updating your business plan or changing your promotional vehicles, you should be flexible enough to make changes when necessary.

They Don’t all Have to be Slam Dunks:
Take heart in the little victories. Dribbling can get you to the basket just as surely as a fast break. Know when to take chances, and when to play it safe.

I hope that small business owners that may be watching the LeBron James story don’t follow in his footsteps. True, sometimes you can find a shortcut in life that gets you where you want to go faster. But ultimately, those goals that we work hardest for are the ones that offer the sweetest rewards.

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