For as long as I can remember I have been an NBA junkie. Having spent most of my life in Europe that usually meant worst sleeping patterns you can imagine, especially in May and June, when key battles are fought. But is it really all fun and games in the NBA? Let’s take a look at 7 things freelancers should learn from some of the most dedicated men alive, members of Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks. 

1. Always be yourself

Face it, the world is full of people providing the same service you are providing. So how do you make sure you’re not just another name in someone’s address book? What is it that makes you different compared to ANY other person in the world? Yes, that’s right, be yourself because nobody else is. Some people will hate you, others will love you, but the best way to make sure your clients (as well as potential clients) remember you is to connect with them on a personal level.

And please, don’t fall into the trap of calling yourself “CEO of Your-Name Corp.” if you’re a one-man band. Really, don’t do it. Personal approach is your biggest advantage over soulless companies, last thing you want to do is act like you’re one, and eventually have your cover blown.

Example – commentating crew

There’s dozens of commentating crews calling games during the season. Yet, there’s only one that has been calling the Finals, several years in a row now, and it’s no accident that it is the one that regular viewer finds it easiest to connect with. Keep this in mind though: if you are being yourself and almost everyone hates you for it, at least consider the possibility of you being the problem.

2. Doesn’t matter where you came from or how you started

If you’re a freelancer and not loving the fact that you’re living in internet era, something’s wrong with you. Not only has your reach expanded a million times, it is now possible to be found by potential clients from anywhere in the world. Another thing is that if you decide you want to do something, the only person that can stop you is you. It’s all about what you have inside you and finding a way to show that to potential clients. You’re living a life your parents and grandparents were not even able to dream of, take advantage of it!

Examples – Dirk Nowitzki and Eric Spoelstra

17 years ago Dirk Nowitzki was a young tennis player living in a small town in Germany, today, an NBA champion, NBA Finals MVP and probably a top-30 player of all time. Miami Heat coach Eric Spoelstra joined the team in 1995. as team’s video coordinator. 16 years later, he led his team to NBA Finals.

3. Top players are on the top for a reason

Looking at leading experts in your field, at times you might think it’s all too easy for them (I know I sometimes do, only to realize how wrong I was, mere seconds later). For every huge gig they land with a client most freelancers can only dream of, there’s countless hours of working on smaller, less interesting jobs, improving their skillsets and doing all the small things most people never even think of.

Example – LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki

Even with LeBron laying an egg these three were the best players in The Finals. They could probably play till they retire with little or no practice and still be extremely good. But they are the first ones in the gym and the last ones out, every single day. If you don’t have that drive in you, it’s unlikely you can move up.

4. Age doesn’t matter

Freelancing is a fair game and anyone can do it. People over 40 might be intimidated by freelancing, but there’s no good reason for that. Say you’re 50 years old, sick of your job and want to try something new? Sure, it’s not as easy as it is for a 20 year old aspiring freelancer still living in his parents’ house, but that’s no excuse. No one ever said it’s easy to go from hating your job to loving it, but if anyone told you that’s not possible, they’re lying.

Example – Jason Kidd

No more than five years ago Jason Kidd was an aging point guard unable to hit a three pointer if his life defended on it. Instead of just letting his career end, he worked harder than ever before until he developed a respectable, if not great, three point shot, while kept his aging body in shape, and today he just could be the happiest 38-year old in the world.

5. Being passionate about what you do will rub-off on people around you

Show people you work with that you really care, and you have every right to expect them to perform better. That goes for clients as well as other freelancers you might be collaborating with. If you don’t genuinely care about what you do, it’s probably time to start doing something you care for, after all, that’s what freelancing should be about.

Example – Mark Cuban

Cuban is, without a doubt, the most polarizing owner of an NBA franchise ever. You could even say that majority of outsiders hate him, but when it comes to his players, coaches or GMs it’s all praise for the eccentric Mavs’ owner. His employees love being treated the way they feel they deserve and when they see their owner burn more calories during a game than some players do, how can they not give their best shot?

6. If you can’t do it alone, team up with other freelancers

Remember that too-large-to-tackle-it-by-myself project? It doesn’t have to be that way, you can chose who you’re working with, so do it. Finding someone to complement your skills is as easy as joining an online discussion, or being active on Twitter, LinkedIn or whatever other social network is hot at the time, so if you ever felt like you needed some help, why not give it a shot?

Example – LeBron James

The most hated man in the NBA spent first 7 years of his career in Cleveland, playing mostly with mediocre teammates and reaching NBA Finals only once. So, in summer of 2010 he decided to team up with two of his friends in Miami and try building a dynasty there.  However, even though he has increased his chance of being an NBA champion dramatically, he still failed winning it all in his first season in Miami, which leads me to…

7. Don’t expect instant success

If being great and successful was easy, would the world be so full of mediocre people? It takes time to do something right and most successful people will tell you that if they got it right the first time they tried, luck was one of the reasons why. Key thing is to keep trying but also evolving your approach. Because, you know, “Insanity = doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.

Example – 2011 Miami Heat

So, they lost and everyone’s happy. But thinking Miami won’t be back even stronger next year would be foolish. When a freelancer gets a negative feedback on an online job marketplace, or loses an important client, he/she should do anything possible to prevent things like that from happening in the future.

Did I miss anything? Feel free to join the discussion and let me know how you feel about the subject.