Football Teaches us Something About Success, and Recovery

As a bloke who is increasingly energised by the successes of others in the 3rd Sector, I found myself at a Tods Murray 3rd Sector Forum to hear Mel Young talk about the Homeless World Cup for some more inspirational tips to take our story at Crew forward.

You see I once heard a chat about the relevance of sport in business success. There was a delightful analogy that compared the effectiveness of a business to a football team. If one asked any employee what their team's goal was or what their own role is and where their business was going, as a football team it would translate that most players weren't quite sure of the rules, a handful didn't know who was on the their side and some couldn't be sure which goal to shoot for.

Today, I was expecting to hear Mel Young tell me how to make a Social Enterprise success out of football and wasn't quite ready for the actual message I would take home.

Now Mel, despite global pretentions (co-founder of the Big Issue, now Chairman & co-founder of a global organisation helping 50,000 homeless annually, hosting events in 80 countries with attendances of up to 100,000) isn't an intense, polished salseman. Instead he has a kind of shaggy relaxed look, bit like a comfy sofa, and settles us into a chat about the possibilities of an idea born over a beer in a pub in Cape Town.

Firstly, it goes without saying that having an idea (countless many of us do) and acting on it (nearly as many again don't) hardly makes for an inspriational story. On paper this idea, set in motion as Mel did with the conviction of a lunatic who believes that football is a truely international language that will unify & educate individuals, governments & the world of the plight of our 500 million homeless, probably wouldn't have convinced me. Goodness knows such insurmountable numbers would happily bury the best intentions of much better people!

No, I took my inspiration when Mel talked about passion.

It was the "expression of passion for his cause" that got Mel noticed at a networking dinner nine years ago, the topic: "the Olympics is a waste of Money." In the process of defending his ridiculous idea during dinner debate, probably so left-field it raised hoots of laughter from the table, the hostess noticed that this guy had something of a conviction in his simple odd concept. She took the podium to wrap up the dinner, but rather than speak herself, she threw this mop-haired Hibs fan on the spot about his bonkers plans to get homeless people competing in football around the world and asked him to share them.

The next bit of the story I have to preface with this fact: this man, at that moment in 2003, nearly did have his idea launched: the first competition would be played anyway just months later in Austria. So what happened next takes nothing away from the special drive to implement such a concept. However I'd forgive any hard working fundraiser for feeling just a mite indignant, for who was in the room that night? Phil Knight, chairman & co-founder of Nike. Phil clearly felt Mel's passion, he passed him his card.

OK, while this salt smarts in our collective funding battle wounds, here's where I remind you that despite the luxurious coincidence of the presence of philanthropic corporate royalty, the real reason why the Homeless World Cup enjoys massive support from Nike is down to Mel's expression of passion for his cause. Indeed, there's so much at stake if one isn't passionate about one's job, organisation or ideas, for at worst opportunity like this is fleeting, but at best you create it in a moment without realising.

What has all this to do with recovery? Well, I can't help think that culturing passion is the key to the Homeless World Cup's success, and not just for its very existence. You see, of the individuals engaged in the program, HWC reports that nearly 80% make positive change through this process of finding community, wearing colours and exhibiting passion to play for their city and maybe their country. It translates roughly as 8 out of 10 individuals inspired to kick drugs, get jobs, find a home. To find self worth.

In working for the frontline team at Crew, and in promoting their many successes, I'm pleased my own passion for our cause is flourishing and I owe it to them to express it: wouldn't want to miss an opportunity! Thanks Mel.

Jeremy Adderley
Enterprise & Finance Manager, Crew 

Recognised as one of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, Mel Young is certainly one to watch to boost you passion. His talk including inspring personal stories, social enterprise challenges and keys to success to empowering people or governments to make change should be streamable on the Tods Murray website soon.