‘The tools needed to run a successful business are synonymous with sport’

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, I opened a cafe called Burra on Lower Redland Road with fellow Bristol Bear Luke Morahan.

With hospitality venues closed and people advised to stay indoors at that time, there were plenty of unknowns. It was a leap of faith and a call we didn’t take lightly!

Yet, almost two years later and that decision seems to have paid off; we’ve since opened a second site on Gloucester Road and won Cafe of the Year at the Bristol Life Awards.

In my experience, the tools needed to run a successful business are synonymous with sport.

During my rugby career, I’ve won championships and struggled at the bottom of the league. I’ve been part of teams that have toppled the giants of the game and lost to part-time tradesmen.

What I didn’t quite realise was how those experiences would shape my understanding of how to run a business.

Jake Heenan has captained Bristol Bears in their opening games of this season and scored a try in Saturday’s victory against London Irish at Ashton Gate – photo: JMP

The best teams I have been part of have a clear mission statement and vision for where they want to be, incorporating values and behaviours that signpost the road ahead.

At Bristol Bears, this underpins everything we do; in the words of the club’s vision: inspiring our community through rugby success.

Finding our purpose allows us to climb in the right direction. I may be able to climb the ladder, but that’s no good to me if it’s against the wrong wall.

At Burra, we pride ourselves on customer service, consistent high quality, and supporting local creators and suppliers.

Our mission is inspiring sustainable thinking through positive change and the team live by that code every day.

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Read more: Burra open second Bristol cafe

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Whether it’s tackle pads or coffee machines, I believe every successful team needs three key elements: high-quality leadership, an effective strategy and a strong culture.

“When things are going well, look at the leadership. When things are going poorly, look at the leadership.”

This message resonates with me; it’s no secret that every successful organisation has strong leaders. This isn’t something you can fake either – if the managers don’t act with integrity, the team will see through them immediately.

One of the most difficult lessons I’ve had so far at Burra is letting individuals go, but it’s important to back your judgement if it’s right for the long-term objectives of the business.

Burra has already got a lot of regular customers – photo: Martin Booth

According to Navy SEAL lore: “Under pressure, you don’t rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training.”

For Burra, this is the level of our systems. I enjoy working in my business, but love working on it. How can I create systems which give our employees the best chance to deliver an excellent product, time and time again?

One of my favourite quotes from Chris Hirst’s book, No Bullsh*t Leadership, is “the best teams are greater than the sum of their parts”.

At Bristol Bears, staff and players feel respected and valued. At Burra, it’s no different. Be slow to hire, quick to fire and always prioritise character. This will give you every chance at building a culture needed for success.

Most importantly in my opinion is resilience. Things will go wrong. It’s how you learn from these mistakes that make all the difference.

Professional athletes live in a cycle of fail and try again. We’re constantly pushing to execute at the very extremes of our physical and psychological limits – if we don’t learn to fail well, we don’t last very long.

A customer of ours once said to me that being successful is simple, but it’s not easy. Get out there and take that first step. Stick to nailing the basics and enjoy the ride. This way, success will find you!

Main photo: Rogan Thomson

Read next:

• Bristol Bears teammates open new cafe
• ‘There’s no silver bullet for becoming great in your field’
• What are Bristol’s best cafes?
• Crowdfunder set up to save south Bristol cafe

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