How do professional basketball and the world of business intertwine? Quite easily if you're solely focused on winning.

When NBA Finals start Thursday, the Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to become the league's first back-to-back world champion since the 2012 and 2013 Miami Heat. Coincidentally, those Miami teams and the current Cleveland team feature the same superstar in LeBron James.

The Cavaliers will face the Golden State Warriors for the third consecutive year. Golden State won the championship in 2015, but Cleveland beat the Warriors in Game 7 to win last year's NBA title. James was named the NBA Finals MVP.

That Cleveland win, however, was followed by NBA megastar Kevin Durant choosing to "take his talents" to Golden State in an effort to play for a championship. Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder, joined Golden State and became one of several catalysts on a loaded team.

In short, Golden State — a team with the two-time reigning MVP in Stephen Curry — just added the guy who won the MVP before Curry.

The big question now: How will LeBron and the Cavaliers top the improved Warriors?

"It's going to be very challenging," James said Sunday to the media. "Those guys are going to challenge me. They're going to challenge our ballclub."

"How can we step up to the challenge?" is a question that businesses can ask themselves every day. In a competitive market, businesses are constantly looking to improve their products and overall brand. For the good of competition, it's best to follow these three simple steps in an effort to beat your biggest business rivals.

'If you stay ready, you ain't gotta get ready'

Actor Will Smith said one of the most promising things that any hustling entrepreneur can hear in this video: "If you stay ready, you ain't gotta get ready."

That quote simply tells anyone that if you keep yourself prepared for anything, nothing will come as a surprise. In the business sector, it's wise to always be on your toes and to never slack — particularly in a competitive market.

Basketball fans will be reminded of how much James was in "stay ready" mode during the playoffs last year. In the Eastern Conference finals, the series before the NBA Finals, James averaged 26.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.7 assists in six games against the Toronto Raptors. Heading into the NBA Finals this year, James is averaging 32.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists in 13 playoff games.

The one thing you never want to tell yourself is, "What if ..." Leave no rock unturned when it comes to competition. Staying ready helps to prevent any uncertainty. And when you're dealing with a rival company that has made great changes for its benefit — and your detriment — you'll be in a prime position to successfully make the next move.

Confidence is key

According to CompetitiveEdge.com, self-confidence is "the mark of a champion." If you have total confidence in yourself and everything you do, no one in the world can stop you from your ultimate goals.

Most are aware that confidence without hard work doesn't amount to much, but if you have a dream and are willing to do whatever to achieve it, confidence and hard work will form an outstanding duo that can ultimately be an unstoppable force.

Cleveland was down 3-1 in the series with Golden State last year — a game away from losing back-to-back NBA Finals. The team however, battled back to not only win the world title but also became the first NBA team to rally from 3-1 down.

Not once did James or any other member of the Cleveland roster say a comeback couldn't be done. And the person rarely talked about from that series — Kyrie Irving — arguably hit the biggest shot of Game 7. Confidence is important.

Whether you're an athlete or entrepreneur, your performance will be affected by your confidence — or lack thereof if you fall dreadfully short of your goals. Keeping your confidence high can be attributed to maintaining focus, understanding your limits (and even testing those limits) and pushing yourself to a level that you didn't reach the day before.

It's all about being better than you were yesterday.

Advice on settling ... don't!

How many of us know millionaires? How many of those millionaires are happy with reaching the seven-figure plateau?

You can bet your paycheck that when it comes to making money, no millionaire on this planet is satisfied with where he or she currently is, financially speaking. They want more, and they work hard to obtain more. There is no such thing as being content when it comes to someone who has tasted success.

After last year’s NBA Finals, a five-word sentence was echoed by LeBron James directed to his fans: "Cleveland, this is for you!" The Cavaliers broke a 52-year championship drought for the city, from when the Cleveland Browns won the 1964 NFL Championship Game.

After tasting victory last year, do you really think the Cavaliers are content with settling for second place this year?

"Settling" should be treated like a four-letter bad word in a kindergarten class. Settling is the fastest way for your competition to catch you. Consider yourself an entrepreneur constantly running a race. Your biggest competition, literally, may be the company next to you, but figuratively, make the competition you — and only you. Never accept what you did the time before. Always be prepared to break your own records.

When dealing with rivals, play each move as if you're a master in the game of chess. Every move must be strategic. Every move must be one step ahead of your opponent's. If you do that, there will be no such thing as a rival getting the edge because of an upgrade.

As for the Cavaliers, you can bet their players, coaches and staff will be ready for the Warriors. Expect a battle between the two best teams in the NBA — and expect Cleveland to do all it can to stay on top against an upgraded Golden State squad.