Entrepreneurship Is a Game
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Entrepreneurship Is a Game

Bysoliaventure

Last Sunday, Stanford vs. UCLA. The teams warming up, the court lit, the sound system ready — and then our chorus stepped out to sing the national anthem.

san francisco youth chorus national anthem stanford
My sister Zélia and I were excited to be part of it. You can listen to our chorus here.

After singing, we stayed to watch the match. Stanford is one of the top college women’s volleyball teams in the country, and from the two games I’ve seen, they’ve won both. (And no, I’m not spoiling anything — because the score isn’t really the highlight.)

stanford volleyball
Two powerhouse NCAA Division I volleyball teams battling it out.

What surprised me most was this: after every single point — whether they won it or lost it — the players regrouped. They hugged, circled up, encouraged each other. No frustration, no blame, no long sulking. Just instant support. Both teams did it, like it was part of the rules.

And I’m starting to see it: sports aren’t only about perfecting skills like serving, spiking, or blocking. Developing a strong mindset is just as important. The mental side — staying positive, encouraging teammates, and resetting quickly — is what turns good players into great ones.

stanford vs ucla
High fives after every point
stanford volleyball
I’ve never been part of a sports team, so I wonder what the coach tells them in these moments. ‘You’ve got this’? ‘Stay focused’? I’d love to know.
stanford volleyball
Not on the court? Still in the game. Every player was cheering, clapping, and encouraging nonstop.
stanford vs ucla
owerful bubbles of energy

Entrepreneurship is a lot like a game. Wins and losses don’t come every 30 seconds like in volleyball, but they do come — almost daily or weekly. A sale, a kind word, or a new idea is a win. A mistake, a failed experiment, or an idea that falls flat may feel like a loss.

When those losses come, who’s in your circle? Who helps you reset and keep going? For me, it’s my family. (Though I’ll admit, we’re not always as consistent as those volleyball players — sometimes we get frustrated with each other before finding our way back to encouragement!)

And of course, improving our skills matters a lot (I’m thinking about starting an art class to level up my drawing). But just like athletes, we practice our mindset as much as our craft. We set it on positivity and abundance — and that’s how we keep growing.

That game left an impression on me.

Success is rarely about avoiding mistakes. It’s about bouncing back, leaning on the right people, and finding the energy to keep playing.

Want to see the energy for yourself? Here’s a short clip from the match: Watch here

And if you’re curious to watch the full game, you can find it here

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