When playing basketball at a high level, one must be prepared before even stepping foot on the court.
Coaches prepare a meticulously crafted scouting report, complete with opposing player tendencies and a game plan for how to exploit them. Game film must be studied – both of the opponent and oneself - outside of allotted practice times.
It takes effort, determination and focus to experience success as a team on the court. Stepping on the hardwood without completing the requisite preparation will likely lead to failure.
It was through growing up with the game of basketball that current Le Moyne men’s basketball graduate forward Armon Nasseri acquired many of the skills necessary to become a thriving entrepreneur.
Nasseri and his brother, Irvin, whom he considers his best friend, bottled their family tea recipe and founded the company Tea Infusions. The duo’s tea product offers, “an aromatic blend of ingredients that are curated to leave you in a happier and calmer state,” according to the company website drinkteainfusions.com.
It was about midway through his college journey that Nasseri realized he wanted to build something of his own.
“Right now, everything is so limited because I have to go to practice at a set time, do my tea deliveries at a set time, and turn in my assignments at a set time,” Nasseri explains. “If I slip up and don't prioritize planning and scheduling, my results start to lack in one of the three areas.
“In order to maintain the results that I want, I make sure that every night before I go to sleep that my calendar and ‘to-do’ list are set-up so that when I wake up, everything is already planned out. Something I have also found to be beneficial is making time to prioritize myself, and turn off all other distractions. This clears my head and makes sure the stress of the day does not overwhelm me.”
The need to plan ahead is not the only basketball lesson Nasseri has applied to his entrepreneurial life. The pensive 6’7” forward offers three main parallels between the beautiful game of basketball and the rewarding endeavor of creating, owning and operating a business.
The first is that practice makes perfect in all aspects of life; even after trying something and failing 100 times, one must still rise and try again.
The second parallel is the need to work well with others. Fostering strong connections, and showing gratitude and respect are key to achieving success.
And the third parallel is the need to conjure the drive necessary to reach established goals - if the goal is to win a basketball game or to start a successful business then one must be driven enough to do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.
Every failure is a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow. We can only evolve through taking on challenges and existing outside of our comfort zone. No one is too good to fail, and without adversity we would all be completely boring.
Nasseri’s parents immigrated to the United States from Iran with the sole intention of providing their children – Armon, Irvin, and Ilene – with every opportunity to be successful. It was his parents’ tireless work ethic that influenced Armon the most.
“I saw them work every day to make that happen, and no matter how hard it got for them, they never showed it. They always persevered and found a way to get through any adversity,” Armon explains. “Because they worked so hard for me, I wanted to make sure I went above and beyond for them in return. I want to be successful so that I can make them proud. This is what drives me to work hard every day.”
In regard to the second of the three parallels listed above, the late Desmond Tutu often spoke of the African philosophy Ubuntu and how the philosophy helped unite South Africa after decades of apartheid, under the leadership of the great Nelson Mandela. The Ubuntu axiom is that a person is a person only through other people. If our goal is to become a real and genuine person, and to achieve our best self, then that is something we cannot do alone. We can only accomplish our greatest goals with the help of other people.
National Basketball Association legend Glenn ‘Doc’ Rivers discussed this concept in a recent episode of The Playbook, featured on Netflix, providing his own interpretation of the philosophy and explaining how the word and its significance uplifted his 2008 NBA Championship-winning Celtics team.
“I can’t be all I can be unless you are all you can be,” Rivers says. “I can never be threatened by you because you’re good, because the better you are, the better I am.”
And so, when it came time to start a business, Le Moyne’s strong and skillful power forward did not want to partner with just anyone. Founding and operating the company with his brother Irvin, someone with whom he connects and trusts, makes decision-making and prioritizing tasks easy and enjoyable.
Nasseri employed that same level of selectivity when deciding to pursue his MBA on “The Heights.”
“Le Moyne has held a high standard of excellence. Ask anyone in Upstate New York about Le Moyne College, and they will always speak so highly of it,” Nasseri stresses. “So, for me, it wasn't a hard choice. The campus offers everything I could ask for - amazing coaches, staff, and an environment that truly brings out one’s best self.
“I also wanted to make sure I was close to where my tea company originated (Rochester). That way I can foster, maintain and grow connections in the area.”
Slowed by a lower leg injury suffered during preseason training, Nasseri made his Dolphin debut during Le Moyne's loss to Stonehill on Jan. 8. He finished with five points and one rebound, marking his first regular season action since the 2019-20 campaign when Nasseri attended Roberts Wesleyan College. The Youngstown, Ohio native averaged 15.2 points per game during his second season at Roberts Wesleyan, starting all 27 games and playing 32.9 minutes per contest before enrolling at Le Moyne.
“The biggest thing for me and what will last for the rest of my life is the connections I have made,” he expresses. “From my teammates to coaches, professors, and the mentors that I've met along the way, these connections are priceless. It's the biggest blessing I could ask for - coming to Le Moyne.”
Nasseri is easy to engage with off the court. He is kind, intelligent, quick to smile, and somewhat soft-spoken. When the team goes on a road trip, Nasseri makes sure to bring a book with him, and there is a strong likelihood that he will be seen reading in the hotel lobby at times during the trip.
“I have many inspirations that help me to continue to learn and grow. I wouldn't say there is just one entrepreneur, but I make sure to constantly read at least two to four non-fiction books each month and also cycle through my favorite podcasts.”
In addition to reading and listening to informative podcasts, Nasseri utilizes the 20/20/20 rule, which allows one to enter a mental state of mindfulness and introspection.
“I get some time for movement, reflection and learning every day,” Nasseri explains. “It’s called the 20/20/20 rule by Robin Sharma, and it requires a minimum of 20 minutes for each of these elements each day. This helps me to get 1 percent better every day. When I prioritize these small habits, I feel a drastic boost in my productivity.”
Nasseri does not lack the drive or desire to be great and has set goals for himself that he feels capable of accomplishing. And even if he doesn’t achieve them immediately, he knows that failure is a part of the journey, just a bump in the road.
https://drinkteainfusions.com
Armon Nasseri -- business owner, graduate student, basketball player, and community member. He believes individuals with a passion for a project or endeavor, a vision and a goal for building something special, should go for it!
“Don’t let anyone stop you. Too often, people we know and love will subconsciously pull us away from our dreams. It isn’t with bad intentions, but sometimes, they might not be encouraging because they aren’t familiar with your planned path. Just remember you are better than you think.”
Armon Nasseri has his plan in place. It will involve accepting and learning from his failures, contributing to and enriching his communities, as well as maintaining the determination to proceed towards achieving his goals and aspirations, no matter what. It is a plan that promises to lead him to great success, now and in the future.
Written by James McGlynn