Remarkable Resilience

Skipping a Base Won't Get You Home

It's Little League season, and my grandsons are all "in the swing" of it.  The youngest is Eli, who is 6.  Last week, one little batter on the opposing team (who happened to be a cute, curly-haired blonde girl) kept running straight to second base from home after she hit.  Seemed like a great short cut to her, but what she hadn't yet learned was, you can't score if you don't touch all bases.

I couldn't help comparing this young player to some of our own antics.  I've certainly been guilty of taking what appeared to be good short cuts, thinking I could get by somehow without laying the essential strong foundation. Maybe you have, too? 

• Have you ever taken off on a brainstorm idea without doing your homework, only to be hit with unanticipated facts later? 
• As a manager, parent, or other leader - have you expected great performance before investing the time in sharing expectations or building skills?
• Have you closed your eyes to the details of your finacial life, assuming it would all somehow just come out OK?
• Has your relationship failed to thrive because you ignored the basics of communication, emotional intimacy, and respect?
• Have you jumped to the stage of criticizing someone without first having built a positive, encouraging relationship that makes the negative feedback palatable? 
• Have you gone on a diet without first assessing your current habits and making a realistic plan?

In short, have you unrealistically reached for success before you've adequately prepared for it? 

That little girl had all the enthusiasm in the world.  She wanted her team to win. However, she hadn't yet developed the knowledge and skill to make success happen.

Motivation is not enough, my friend.  Creative ideas are not enough.  And while smart people are good at working efficiently, there are just some short cuts you can't take.  You have to prepare, learn, know the fundamentals and do them. There are some bases you just must touch if you're going to score!

Insights from Washington Redskins Quarterback Jason Campbell

I had the amazing privilege this weekend of being a member of the volunteer staff of the Quarterback Club, an annual leadership retreat my church sponsors for high school football players.  These young men are nominated by their coaches for participation based not just on their talent on the field, but on on their demonstrated power of influence.  Our goal is to invest in young people who ARE leaders (influencers), helping them to build the character and skills that will result in their being the right kind of role models for their teammates and peers.  The 44 guys who attended were active, enthusiastic participants and learners. I loved working with them.

The retreat kicked off Friday night with a program by Jason Campbell, quarterback for the Washington Redskins whose football career began in a small town near here. What an impressive man!  Tall, handsome, and kind.  In a profession where too often the news is an arrest or a termination of a contract (well-publicized by the media, of course), this man humbly donated his time to share with these kids, answer their questions patiently, and treat everyone there with the utmost respect. 

Jason told these boys that talent is not enough.  (It never is.) He talked about character, coachability, and perseverance.  (Very applicable in business, too.  We hire people for their technical skills; we fire them for their emotional skills.) 

Jason let these kids know that their choices today can affect their future.  Their eyes were wide when he told them that he learned after being drafted by the Redskins that they had gone back and interviewed his junior high, high school, and college coaches about his attitude, his work ethic, and his ability to work as a team member.  They even interviewed his first grade teacher!

Then he said something that I hope sticks with every young man forever.  When I did a class with them later in the weekend (on girls - that was interesting!) I asked them what he said about success, and they were able to quote it.  Great!

Here's how Jason Campbell summed up the success thing:

"I'm going to get married one day and have kids.  When I do, I don't want my kids to say, 'My dad's a superstar player.' I want them to say, 'My dad's a superstar man and a superstar dad.'"

A pretty good thought for the rest of us, too, Jason. Thanks for the reminder.

What do YOU think success is?   

Dr. Bev