RCB Won IPL, Then Got Sold — Are You Next?
RCB won the IPL after 17 years but the owners immediately put the team up for sale. Their reason was simple: cricket is not their core business, alcohol is. Thi...
Avinash Chate - Team Building Expert conducting interactive workshop RCB Won IPL, Then Got Sold — The Career Lesson Every Professional Must Learn When I saw the conversation around RCB winning after 17 long years and then being put up for sale, one thought stood out clearly in my mind: this is not just a cricket story. It is a career story. It is a leadership story. It is a workplace reality that every professional must understand before it is too late. Your effort matters only when it connects to what the organization truly values. That may sound harsh, but after working with leaders, managers, and teams across 1,000+ organizations, I can tell you this with conviction: many talented people are not struggling because they lack dedication. They are struggling because their dedication is not aligned with the company’s core priorities. I, Avinash Chate, have seen this pattern repeatedly in corporate training rooms, leadership workshops, and performance conversations. People say, “I work very hard,” “I am loyal,” “I always give my best,” and yet they feel invisible, undervalued, or easily replaceable. Why? Because organizations reward contribution to business relevance, not effort in isolation. As a TEDx speaker and author of The Winning Edge, I believe this is one of the most important mindset shifts professionals need today. Let me break it down in a practical way. Winning Does Not Always Mean You Are Untouchable Let us begin with the basic lesson. A team can win. A person can perform. A department can work sincerely. But if that unit is not central to the larger business direction, tough decisions can still happen. That is exactly why professionals must stop assuming that performance alone guarantees security. Performance is important, yes. But performance without strategic relevance is fragile. In many organizations, leaders ask a silent question before making decisions: “Does this role directly support what drives our future?” If the answer is unclear, even a sincere employee may be at risk. This is not about fear. It is about awareness. When I speak to professionals in training sessions, I often ask them, “Can you clearly explain how your work helps the organization grow, retain clients, improve trust, strengthen teams, or build long-term value?” Many people struggle to answer that. That is the real problem. In the workplace, being hardworking is admirable. Being business-relevant is indispensable. If you understand this early, you can shape your career more consciously. If you ignore it, you may keep giving your best in areas the organization no longer sees as critical. Why So Many Good Professionals Still Feel Replaceable One of the biggest myths in corporate life is this: “If I stay loyal and work hard, my value will automatically be recognized.” I wish that were always true. But in reality, organizations evaluate value through outcomes, alignment, influence, and impact. I have met many professionals who are disciplined, ethical, and committ…
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By Avinash Chate — Maharashtra’s #1 Corporate Trainer & Motivational Speaker. Published 2026-04-19.