Today, we’re doing something a little different here on the North American Bancard blog. We’re taking a break from the exciting world of credit card processing to cheer on our boys in Brazil. Today is the opening day of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil – this is easily, one of the largest, most-watched sporting events in the world. Grab your red, white and blue today, and give a big cheer for the U.S. Men’s National Team. They face off against Ghana on Monday, June 16. GO USA!

“Stay humble, stay grounded, remember what got you to that level- and that’s hard work.”

-Tim Howard, US Goalkeeper

Tim Howard makes a valid point about staying grounded and this is applicable for almost everything, especially for entrepreneurs. At any point in your journey, you have to remember to keep your feet on the ground and think of the path that you walked. In the end, it’s worth it, but there will be setbacks. When this happens, take a step back, look at where you went wrong and do it all over again. Most startups fail and that’s no easy statistic to face when thinking about starting your own. Fortunately, when you do it right, you’ll be the minority that can turn an idea into a small business and then into a big business. Follow your ambitions, just like Tim Howard did with the challenges he faced.

 Howard was born with Tourette’s syndrome, but he did not let this keep him from becoming the best goalkeeper in the world. Don’t make excuses, get out there do what it is that you enjoy. Even Howard said, “Manchester United could have any goalkeeper in the world. I was a 23-year-old kid from New Jersey who, from an early age, had to cope with Tourette’s syndrome, a brain disorder that can trigger speech and facial tics, vocal outbursts and obsessive compulsive behavior.”

Who are you rooting for? Who do you think can win it all?