“I came to understand that my life experiences instilled in me my own set of biases, values, and beliefs. Having been bullied caused me to often push back and always question authority. Doing poorly in school forced me to get out of the box and find creative ways to succeed. My regrets caused me to often reexamine my actions and search for a better way to get things done. Being a perpetual rule breaker allowed me to be comfortable not always pleasing the person in charge, while the support and acceptance of my friends gave me the sense that I was okay.”
“I learned that if you have a vision, you have to stick to it no matter what others say, especially the people running the circus. Nobody wins a championship by sticking to a manual or directives from above. Winning takes true passion and instilling enthusiasm in your team. As I have always done, I acquired this wisdom by doing rather than following someone else's lead.”
“From my experience with the swim team, soccer, and hockey, Ray, and LeRoy, I learned that leading a group of people had everything to do with enthusiasm, commitment, and connection. I came to understand that leadership wasn't so much about demand and control as it was about respect and trust. I realized that the secret to team success was creating an environment where hard work and fun felt like the same thing.”
“One day, I had this crazy thought. Could the very things that I thought were holding me back—my faults, disabilities, and limitations—have given me a perspective, skill set, and leadership advantage over the intelligent, talented high achievers who rarely experienced defeat, ridicule, or regret?”
“I learned from them that asking for help, giving help, and accepting help are essential to teamwork and leadership.”
“I knew from these experiences that I could never be committed to a team purely because I wore their jersey. I could never follow someone solely because they were called captain, coach, president, or leader. Most certainly, I would never be browbeaten into giving up 'me' to be part of 'we'.”
“Identifying my own limitations was key in helping me understand other people’s challenges and limitations. It also helped me relax and accept who I was, which included not having the same skills as others. I was different, but my brain had developed these alternative pathways to deal with my differences in my own unique way.”
“Sadly, I would also experience the collapse of a great team as new bosses forced their will, operating style, and culture on the team. The environment would slowly harden and crumble, people would leave, and what had been a great team would be all but a faint memory. The reality is that a business unit is just a collection of people. Whether they become a team will have everything to do with their leader’s approach. Be that person!”
“That was our environment. We played hard and were proud of it. We all knew, or at least had ourselves convinced, that the fun we shared and the bond we created was the key to our success. As I look back many years later, I am sure it was. After all, we were leading the country by almost every operational measurement.”
