If nothing else, I’ve learned over the past 20 years successful entrepreneurs have a lot to teach business owners and managers. It’s why I remain hell-bent as editor of the Business Times to report stories about entrepreneurs, the needs they recognize in the marketplace and innovative ways they go about meeting those needs.

For one thing, it makes for compelling copy. For another, it’s the type of information business owners and managers might find useful and perhaps even replicate in their operations. Not so much specific products and services, but the concepts and processes involved. It’s become something of a rhyming mantra of mine to offer readers news, views and advice they can use.

Nonetheless, I’ve also wondered what business owners and managers could glean from those who’ve achieved success in pursuits outside business. Professional athletes come to mind. But so do others, including fighter pilots, mountain climbers and even stand-up comedians.

I consulted with the oracle — Google, that is — both to satisfy my curiosity and share results I deemed applicable. Here’s some of what I found.

The prospect of what professional athletes can teach business owners and managers is a common one, nearly to the point of cliche. I suspect most owners and managers don’t need to read one more word about teamwork or hustle.

What’s more interesting to me is the notion if sports is, in fact, similar to business, then those who succeed in sports should succeed in business. Right? As it turns out, many professional athletes have achieved success in business arenas and credit what they learned from competition.

Let’s consider Alex Rodriguez, the baseball star, as a notable example. After 22 seasons in the major leagues, Rodriguez leads an investment and development firm involved in real estate, wellness and entertainment. Rodriguez attributes his success in large part to the competitive drive he developed playing baseball.

NFL running back Justin Forsett helped launch a company that sells anti-bacterial, disposable body wipes for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Forsett cites the importance of preparation and focus.

OK. Fine. But what about fighter pilots? What could they possibly have in common with business owners and managers? How about the necessity to make decisions, sometimes very quickly, with existential consequences.

John Boyd, an Air Force fighter pilot and colonel, developed a process he called the OODA loop — an acronym for observe, orient, decide and act. The first step is to assess the situation, including variables that affect not only the business, but also competitors. The second step is to analyze that information and develop a model or perspective that minimizes assumptions. Considering the options presented by the first two steps, the third step is to make a decision. There could be opportunities to test decisions and make adjustments. The final step is to act and evaluate the outcome.

In addition to the obvious lessons about taking on audacious challenges and persevering in the face of adversity, mountain climbers can offer business owners and managers some insights into distinguishing between what they think they need and what they actually need.

Alpine-style mountaineers who climb light and fast carry only what they know to be necessary. A bigger warehouse, more office space and additional equipment might be nice, but are they really essential to operations or just weighing a business down?

Stand-up comedy is no laughing matter when it comes to teaching business owners and managers to make better presentations. Just ask Andrew Tarvin, a stand-up comedian who also runs a consulting firm that serves corporate clients.

Tarvin identifies five commonalities between successful comedy routines and business presentations: a relatable introduction and confident delivery, to be sure, but also seeking out feedback, giving credit where it’s due and respecting people’s time by not droning on past the allotted time.

Successful entrepreneurs serve as perhaps the most imitable examples for business owners and managers. But I also believe there’s something to learn from nearly anyone who’s successful at what they do. Who knows? Maybe even newspaper editors have a pearl or two of wisdom to share.