If anyone doesn’t know, I am from New Zealand, and if there is one thing New Zealanders are passionate about…it’s rugby. Actually passionate isn’t quite the way to describe it. Rugby is a religion in New Zealand.
The All Blacks are New Zealand’s international Rugby Union team, and they are pretty damn good at it. Over one hundred years of playing, the All Blacks have won 85% of all their matches. In fact they are among thee most successful sports teams in history. Not bad for a little remote country like New Zealand, with only four million people to its name.
Recently—actually last Saturday—the All Blacks beat Australia (which made it all the sweeter) to win the Rugby World Cup. Every four years all the nations that play rugby, including America by the by, meet to compete for a small, but golden cup. And this year, for the first time in the competition’s history, a nation has been able to retain that cup.
It’s an enviable reputation the All Blacks have. How they handle themselves, their brand and their game has become something of a success story, and businesses all over the world have been examining them to see what they have been doing to make it all work.
As a writer, there is a surprising amount we can learn from the All Blacks.
- Don’t panic. There was a certain part of the game against Australia last week, where an All Black was sent off the field for a call by the referee. (I’m not going into how many New Zealanders think it was a dodgy call) However, the end result was that the All Blacks were playing with a man down.  For writers the situation would be a deadline, or losing your editor (which happened to us). Much as the All Blacks had a plan for losing a man on the field, you can have a plan for your deadline. Even when faced with those unforeseen events like having your editor leave, about all keep your head, and look for away through.
- Be Humble in Success and Failure. The All Blacks always invite the other team back to their locker room after the game. There they swap jerseys and build general camaraderie. Writers could learn a great deal from this. Don’t begrudge another author’s success, don’t shut them down because you feel like you deserved it more than they do. Be gracious, make friends, offer helpful advice.
- Hold to Your Traditions. For the All Blacks the most obvious tradition is the haka, the challenge they lay down before every game. It sets them in the mood to win. Writers should also find their own traditions. Maybe it is getting the cup of coffee at their side, or their cat curled at their feet. Put yourself in the mindset to write, and make your intention as clear as the All Blacks do at the start of a match.
- Build your Team. If you have ever watched the All Blacks doing a grand run towards the try line, you will witness the working of a well-oiled team. The powerful ballet of one player passing a ball behind him, and not needing to look. He knows his team mate is there. Now you might not think a writer has a team, but they do. They have editors, publicists, cover artists, and co-writers. Much like the All Blacks in their training, talking to your team, and knowing what to expect from them is vital.
- Never Stop Improving. Even when they win a match, the All Blacks still dissect what went on. With each book release, you should too. Critically look at what worked for you and what didn’t. Did you drop the ball with your editor? Was there a particularly successful book blog?
- Passion. If you have ever watched the All Blacks, you can see passion for what they do. Like professional sportsmen, authors can sometimes let money get in the way. Write what you are passionate about, and have pride in what you do. You’re creating worlds damnit!
- Be adaptable. The All Blacks have been around over a hundred years, and over all those years there have been plenty of challenges and changes in the rules of the game. However, they have always been able to adapt. As writers were are presumably trying to build long careers, and that means being as flexible as the All Blacks. Keep your eyes on the rules of the game as they change before you.
- Aim to achieve. Even if you lose now and then, keep looking forward, keep aiming for more and better. The All Blacks have lost games, like authors will lose contracts and editors. However, keep pushing forward and looking towards the future. If you give up, those successes will never happen.
