Each season, the Premier League welcomes three new clubs from the Championship. Often, those promoted sides quickly find themselves out of their depth. Last year, Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton went straight back down. The year before, it was Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United who could not survive the step up.
But this season, the story looks different. Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley – the three promoted teams – currently sit in 7th, 12th and 16th place respectively. Early days, yes, but their solid starts suggest they might just have the tools to survive.
Start-ups and businesses that have recently expanded can learn a great deal from their approach. Just as these clubs face new challenges in a tougher division, young or growing companies must adjust to a more competitive environment. Here are three lessons worth noting.
1. Protect Home Turf – Do the Basics Brilliantly
Sunderland have been especially strong at home. Of the eight points they have collected so far this season, seven have come at the Stadium of Light. Making home games count is critical for any newly promoted side, and in business terms, it is about excelling at your core services.
It is tempting for start-ups to chase every new idea or expand into new markets too quickly. But the surest way to build resilience is to dominate at home first. Do what you do best with consistency, and the results will follow.
By making sure the basics are right and consistently delivering quality where it matters most, businesses earn the trust needed to build beyond their foundations.
2. Invest in the Right Team
Over the summer, Sunderland spent £150 million to strengthen their squad. That level of investment might raise eyebrows, but in the Premier League, you need quality players to survive. In the same way, businesses must ensure they have the right people in place before moving into bigger arenas.
Hiring strategically, developing staff, and creating a culture where talent can thrive is not a luxury – it is a necessity.
Jim Collins nails it: "Great vision without great people is irrelevant. Ambition only translates into results when you’ve hired, trained and empowered the right squad.”
For start-ups and expanding firms, that means investing in recruitment, training, and leadership to give your organisation the best chance of success.
3. Go for Wins, Not Draws
Draws can keep you ticking over in football, but they rarely build momentum. Last season, Tottenham Hotspur avoided relegation despite losing 22 matches – the most ever by a side staying up in a 38-game season – because they only drew five times and made the rest count with wins.
The lesson for business? Don’t settle for small, uncertain gains if you can secure decisive wins. Landing a major contract with one client can be worth far more than spreading yourself thin across multiple ‘toe-in-the-water’ projects.
The late, great Bruce Lee was neither a businessman nor a footballer but he said something once that sums up this point brilliantly, “The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.”
Have focus. Work on the big deals (the wins). Do not spend all your effort on small fry (the draws).
Final Whistle
Promotion to the Premier League is only the start of the challenge. Staying there requires discipline, smart investment, and the courage to go for wins rather than settling for safety.
The same applies in business. If you are a start-up or a company stepping up a level, focus on doing the fundamentals well, back your team with the right resources, and aim for decisive victories rather than incremental half-measures.
To borrow the words of footballing legend Pelé: “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing.”
For Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley, that philosophy may just keep them in the Premier League. For your business, it could be the difference between surviving and thriving in your new division.