Red Auerbach: The Harvard Business Review Interview

Part 18

HBR: Do you think managing the Celtics is like managing any other business?

AUERBACH: I do. People say that I could run any other business. They used to put in the paper that I should take over the Red Sox or manage the Patriots. But that doesn't make sense. My knowledge of the product isn't there.

That's one of the big problems in sports today. The old adage is true, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Lots of owners who have been successful in one thing think they can pick up something new in a few months. Then they can't understand why they're not successful in the new business. They don't realize that they don't have a complete knowledge of the product.