From Boardrooms to Boxing Rings With Bilat Shaista of Bil Sha Boxing Club
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When you think about it, navigating a career isn’t all that different from stepping into the boxing ring.
You start with raw talent, ambition, and a desire to succeed. Your goal is to climb the ranks, face challenges head-on, overcome adversity, and ultimately aim for the top.
The journey of Bilat Shaista, founder of Bil Sha Boxing Club, from the corporate world to the Boxing Club is quite interesting! His transition from banking and hospitality to managing a successful boxing gym highlights his resilience, leadership, and innovative approach to life and business.
He says “Every experience counts” and “I brought some terrific life skills from the industry to the boxing ring that helped me become an entrepreneur.”
Starting Out
Among the lessons Bilat offers in his coaching is – starting out! Starting your career is like a boxer entering the ring for the first time. You come in with a lot of theory from books, but the real world is different. In the workplace, just like in the ring, you face unexpected challenges—dependencies, governance, and dealing with people.
Think about it: You begin your job with no real experience and have to learn the ropes of corporate etiquette. It’s much like a new boxer learning the rules and techniques of the sport. You quickly realize that what you learned in theory doesn’t always apply to real-life situations. You’re suddenly in back-to-back meetings, measured by metrics, and possibly facing quotas and performance targets. It’s a whole new league, and you have to adapt quickly.
Show Up
One of the most important lessons Bilat learned, whether in the corporate world or the boxing gym, is the value of showing up. In banking, this meant being present for every meeting, every client call, and every deadline. In boxing, it means attending every training session, even when motivation is low.
Bilat recalls his early days in banking, where the long hours and constant demands were overwhelming. He tells us, “Show up every day, ready to tackle whatever came his way. Trust me, this persistence pays off, leading to promotions and greater responsibilities.” Similarly, when he started boxing, consistently showing up for training, despite the initial soreness and fatigue, laid the foundation for his future success in the ring.
Stepping Up: Gaining Experience
One thing that remained consistent throughout Bilat’s career is learning.
He says, “As you gain experience, you face more significant challenges, similar to a boxer moving from amateur to pro-fights. No longer are you dealing with three-round bouts; now, it’s up to 12 rounds, and the stakes are much higher.”
He believes, one tackles these challenges with determination and grit. You pay attention to details, learning from past mistakes to avoid repeating them. This mirrors how a boxer refines their skills, constantly training and looking for new techniques to gain an edge over their competitors. In both arenas, continuous improvement is key.
Embrace Being Bad at Something
Let’s be honest, nobody wants to be bad at anything. We all want to excel at something, and become a “pro.” In both business and boxing, he says “one thing has been common, “you need to be bad at something initially is okay, in fact, is important.” It’s the starting point for improvement and mastery.
When Bilat first joined the family hospitality business, he struggled with the intricacies of operations and customer service. There were days when he felt out of his depth. However, instead of being discouraged, he embraced these challenges as learning opportunities. This mindset translated to the boxing ring. Bilat’s first attempts at boxing were far from perfect, but he kept pushing, learning from his mistakes, and gradually improving.
The Importance of Small Steps
In boxing, just like in life, Bilat realized the importance of taking small, deliberate steps toward a larger goal. Every jab, every round of training, contributes to the final outcome.
In his corporate career, Bilat often aimed for quick wins, but these weren’t always sustainable. When he shifted to focusing on smaller, consistent improvements, he saw more substantial and lasting progress. This lesson was reinforced in boxing, where he learned that mastering basic techniques, like the jab, was crucial. A powerful knockout punch doesn’t come from raw strength alone but from the accumulation of precise, smaller moves.
Leadership Is Empowerment
Running Bil Sha Boxing Club taught him that true leadership is about empowering others. He says, “Whether managing a team in a corporate setting or coaching aspiring boxers, the goal is to help others realize their potential.”
Your mentor or trainer plays a crucial role in unlocking your full potential. They’re the ones who push you beyond your limits, helping you tap into your hidden talents and raw skills. Think of them as your personal coach, guiding you through every step of your journey.
Who fills this role for you? It’s typically someone who’s been there, done that—a mentor or teacher who isn’t afraid to call you out when needed. They’re the ones who help you strategize and execute your game plan, offering valuable insights and guidance along the way.
“So, find the right leaders and stick with them,” he says.
