With humble apologies for the slight tangent, something quite incredible is happening in the English Premier League right now. This time last year, Leicester City were firmly rooted at the bottom of the table and with only nine games to go, they were certainties for relegation. Despite managing to scrape their way through to eventual survival (which was an impressive feat in itself), with relatively minimal expenditure on new players in the summer of 2015, they entered this season as the least favoured team in the entire division and their odds of winning the league were set at 5000-1, which, to give some form of comparison, are precisely the same odds you can get on Elvis being alive.
Well my friends, dust off those blue suede shoes and start believing in the return of the King once again.
With only six games to go, Leicester are seven points clear at the top of the table. A large number of the nineteen clubs below them have, on paper, much better teams. They have spent a lot more money for starters. They have more experienced coaches. They have a much wider fan base and therefore generate a much higher revenue. They have so called world-class players that have been brought in from across the globe with a pedigree to enable them to win things for their employers. And yet the Leicester City juggernaut continues to roll, but (spoiler alert) unlike the film "Duel", this truck does not look remotely likely to fall off a cliff*.
So, Phil, with this of course being (mildly) interesting (to you), why on earth is this relevant to this blog?
Well, I couldn't help but read Oliver's message from the Emerging Manager's Forum and think there is actually a comparison to be made here. Whilst it goes without saying that those managers who have access to the deepest resources, the very best management, the stellar principals, the most high-tech infrastructure and the widest market spread set themselves up for having the best possible chance of success, there is absolutely no reason that the smaller, emerging manager cannot take a leaf out of Leicester City's book. They have brought in a manager who has a clear vision as to how the club should be run. They have invested prudently and wisely within their means and ensured that they have a structure that allows the vision to flourish. When you combine that with an incredible level of hard work, a sprinkling of good fortune and a belief that they can achieve something special, they are suddenly able to take on the very best in their industry.
So, smaller football clubs, just because you can't afford Lionel Messi and you don't have 100,000 people coming to watch you every week, it does not mean that you cannot rise to the top. And as for you emerging managers, just because you are not George Soros and don't have US$100 billion AUM, it does not mean you cannot find a way to develop your strategy and attract the very best investors. Find your focus, build an infrastructure to appropriately supplement your strategy within the financial boundaries in which you are placed and above all else, believe in yourself and those advisers you have placed around you.
Everything else will follow. Including Elvis.
* This article comes with a huge apology in advance to all of the Leicester City fans whose magical story I have clearly just jinxed.
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