Making Goals with Stephan

It started about a year ago. Not making goals, of course, but making goals - on the soccer field. I now find myself playing with no less than five teams including indoor, outdoor, and co-ed groups that share my adoration for the sport. The goals we make as a team on the field definitely connect with my goals for Rise and the team effort we make for our clients. Here’s how…

Understanding the Sport

To do anything well, regardless of which “field” you’re working in, you need to understand the sport involved in your endeavor; soccer and digital marketing are perfect examples. I love the strategy involved.

Whether it’s a play for the other end of the green or a campaign to win the maximum number of conversions on a new website, the strategy is fascinating and the execution exciting. I love being part of a bigger strategic effort where a team can play together in harmony. Sometimes it can be hard to get there, but it’s always well worth the effort when you make a big score.

Stamina: Physical and Mental

I also enjoy the athletic side of soccer that’s critical to success. The amount of stamina you need is amazing. It's kept me lean, mean, and competitive. Even though we tend to spend our days in chairs at Rise, problem solving takes another kind of stamina – mental power.

Creativity solves just about any complex problem even where brute strength may fail and if there’s anything great marketers know, it’s that finesse is mightier than the bludgeon. I’m lucky to have a team that brings a wealth of smarts to the table.

Technique and Skill

Also, building up the technique and skill you need to be a formidable contender on the field takes a considerable amount of energy. Soccer is about practice and control and it’s hard to get better without a lot of time to dedicate to the sport. I invest what time I can to my improvement on the soccer field as a stress outlet, but in the office we’ve got some of the best and brightest talents at work whose skills and techniques are sharp and hard-earned through formal and continuing education.

There always seems to be more to do to improve yourself and your game to the service of your team. Most other soccer players in my league have been playing for years, so they have a big advantage but I love the challenge of catching up. At Rise, though, our team definitely has an edge and we do our best to stay on top of our game to keep our competitors on their toes.

Scoring Goals

When it comes to soccer, I may not expect to become the next Lionel Messi or Landon Donovan (Did you see them in the 2010 World Cup? I am such a big fan of those guys!), but working hard toward any goal makes victory that much sweeter, World Cup or no. So until the Cup for digital marketing shows up, we do it for the glory of knowing that what we do helps our clients change the world.

And if that’s not a worthy goal, I don’t know what is.