Conviction, Resilience, Believe

Unbroken is one of my all-time, favorite books so I was awaiting the release of the movie with great anticipation.

Ahhh… Louie, what a story. What a stellar human being.

The movie depicts Louis Zamperini’s strength, strong will and the absolute desire to persevere.

Conviction is to be unbroken - I believe that it was his conviction that led Louie to excel and to survive. He believed that he would catch Don Lash in the first qualifying race. He believed that he would survive 47 days in a raft on the ocean, catching a shark with his bare hands for food. He believed that he could hold a huge and heavy plank above his head for hours. He believed that he could outwit and outlast his captor. He had more than belief, he had conviction.

Finish and finish strong - A theme that continued throughout Zamperini’s life was his kick. He always found something – some way – to finish strong – even in defeat. It’s how we finish that really matters. Having the right ‘road map’ helps. Have a plan, know your end goal and whatever it takes – finish strong to achieve it.

Control the one thing in your life that you can – yourself - The greatest threat to your future is the one from within. It is not what happens to you but what happens *in* you that makes or breaks you. The one and only thing that you can control is yourself. The secret of resilience starts with the courage to control what you can.

It takes courage to resist self-pity and the need to blame others. Louie controlled his own life – on the Olympic training track, adrift in the Pacific for 47 days, and in a prisoner-of-war camp.

Set your vision and expectations - When Louie’s B-24 crashed into the Pacific Ocean, there were only three survivors. After several days with no rescue in sight, the chances for survival became grim. Louis and co-pilot Allen Phillips continued to fight for survival. The other surviving crewmember, Mac, slowly gave up and slipped away.

What we visualize and expect sets the direction of our lives. Maybe you blew a big presentation today. The job interview that you rocked never resulted in an offer.  We are disappointed on a daily basis.  Get over it. Each disappointment is only a step forward to where we want to be. Continue to hold that ideal picture of yourself and who you want to be. If you don’t stop, you will get there.

Lose the selfishness - Life as a POW brought many horrible days to Louie and his fellow POWs. Louie never lost focus of his mates.  Sometimes, we get so wrapped-up in our own problems and issues that we forget others. We live and look at things in a vacuum. It’s good to get out of our own heads and focus on others once in a while. By doing so, we serve others, get away from our own problems, and give our spirit a much-needed boost.

Revenge is rarely the answer - persevere through forgiveness – At the end of the movie we learn that post war Louie returned to Japan where he located and forgave his captors.

It is true – hard times will make you better or bitter. Louie shows us what happens when a person chooses to forgive.

Had Louie not chosen to forgive his captors, he may have physically left the prison camp in the 1940s, but he would have still remained enslaved to them for the remainder of his life. I bet he never forgot though. Never. Forgive but never forget.

My favorite line in the move is made by one of Louie’s fellow POWs. He says, “We beat them by making it to the end of the war alive. That’s our revenge."

Survival and success is sweet revenge. Be resourceful, hardworking, always have a contingency plan, seize opportunities, have unimaginable perseverance and resiliency, and know that hate and revenge cloud success.  

 

Foxcatcher: Just Because You Call Yourself Coach, Doesn’t Mean You Are!

I grew up in central PA and loved high school wrestling. My Dad, an avid sports fan and football coach, would cart me and my friends off to many wrestling matches to cheer for our classmates.

The murder of Olympic wrestler David Schultz by multi-millionaire John du Pont was well known to me. It happen just 220 miles away.  I remember clearly that the guilty verdict was announced on my birthday, February 25, in 1997.  The unfortunate truth about the tragedy, now a movie named Foxcatcher after the du Pont estate in Newtown Square, PA— is that human beings are incompetent risk managers. We find any reason to ignore obvious red flags. We readily accept present flaws and self-proclaimed titles and accolades. We put up with fakeness and worry too much about what others think of us. We fail to account for consequences.  When calamity, chaos and bad karma strike, we vow to be smarter next time, but seldom are.

I didn’t love the book, nor the movie but if you dig deep, a few really strong themes can help us all in the workplace.

Never ignore the red flags!
On paper, du Pont was a great guy. But in the '90s, a few of his close friends reported du Pont was exhibiting erratic behavior. After the murder of David Schultz, his lawyers claimed that he had begun to mentally deteriorate after his mother's death in 1988. Those close to du Pont reported that he believed there was a conspiracy to kill him. He referred to himself as "The Holy Child", thought he was the Dalai Lama, paid people to lose to him in competitions, and purchased ridiculous “toys” like a tank with a mounted machine gun. The biggest glaring red flag -- du Pont doesn't quite grasp that some people simply cannot be bought.

Yes, du Pont was odd and quirky.  But, odd is not a red flag. Odd behavior is.

Listen to your gut.  If you see, hear, feel or sense what I like to call the red flags of quirkiness…react. Get out! Move on! Stay clear!

The only person you need to impress is yourself!
In my opinion, the most disturbing scene in the movie takes place when du Pont attempts to show off and impress his mother, a woman he craved approval from his entire life. He holds a coaching session with Olympic-ready wrestlers. But, he is no coach. He is weak, unskilled and not respected. He is a farce and as he demos simple elementary moves to world-class athletes in front of his mother, the entire squad is embarrassed for him and shocked silent.  The mother quickly exits and du Pont stops his ridiculous lesson.

The road to impress others with show-boating is a dead end.  There is no need to impress people with expensive, shiny things.  Go back to the basics -- be clean, presentable, well behaved. The relationships you build are based on you not on the material items or pretend personalities.  People will either like you for you or they won’t – no amount of shiny, material things will change their perception.

Just because you call yourself coach, doesn’t mean you are!
John du Pont wants to be recognized as a coach. He had limited skill and no attributes of a true coach and mentor. He bought his way to the title. As the daughter of an extraordinary coach and mentor, I cringe even at the thought.  Respect is earned my friends, not demanded and certainly not purchased.  Just because you want to be called queen, and maybe you can even buy your way to the throne…does not mean you possess the finesse to wear the crown. If you want to be a coach and mentor…earn it.   Lead by example. Have integrity. Give advice based on experience. Listen. Help others succeed. Have a learning attitude.  Know your own strengths and abilities. Be independent. Be a continuous learner. Provide guidance and constructive feedback. Value the opinions and initiative of others. Motivate others by setting a good example. Educate. Care. Focus. Produce.

Earn it!

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BOO! Scared? Terror can be a Teacher

Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the weather, the football season, the smell in the air. Many of us flock to the annual scary movie marathons to get in the mood for Fright Night.

Scary movies – I find them quite funny.  Why do the actors ALWAYS make the worst decisions?  They practically walk right up to the said villain and hug them.

 

But, scary movies have much to teach us. Happy Learning.

 

Ankles are the most vulnerable part of your body

 

Achilles had his heel, but as horror tales clearly illustrate for the rest of us it’s the ankle that will spell our doom, i.e. stand strong on your own two feet - and ankles. Don’t ride another’s coattails.

 

Whether it’s a hand suddenly snatching your ankle as it shoots out of a clearly botched business decision or a hand grabbing your ankle in a dark hallway once you all decided you were going to stay in a haunted business relationship because the work was as good as done anyway, scary always seems to come, not from above but below, dragging us away screaming, clawing at the floor, and wondering if this is what we get for wearing stilettos instead of boots.

Somebody presumed out-of-sight will come back in the knick-of-time

Rule number one, that we all learn from horror movies, is that if you don’t actually see your friend die but just get dragged off by his ankles (see above – there’s those ankles)  screaming or cursing you out for just standing there watching, then she probably will be back.  Rule number two is that person will reappear both somehow stronger for having been beaten to near death by demons and at the very last second to save your life. Believe in your friends.  They will be there to save your life, if they can.

Never Leave the Group / Team

When there’s a maniac on the loose, straying from the team is just a bad decision. We must work in teams. We must respect each team member. We must have each other’s backs. Cling to your group like glue. The loner always gets it in the end!

Always Bring Backup

One chief lesson that I’ve learned from horror movies is to always grab an extra weapon, i.e. always have a contingency plan. Just assume that your first line of defense will somehow go wrong. If a data-crazed zombie is banging down your door, pack an extra set of evidence-based spreadsheet to prove your case (just in case).

Shortcuts are a bad idea

Chances are, those off-the-beaten-path shortcuts will leave you stranded, alone, and in the path of a chain saw. My advice: due diligence. Shortcuts often result in disaster at the end. Do your job to the best of your ability. But remember, process improvement for increased efficiency is NOT the same as a shortcut.

Trust Your Instincts

We were born with survival instincts, thanks to our cavemen ancestors. However, we usually pay absolutely no attention to them and that is how people end up running from vampires.  If you have a weird feeling about a place, or a person, or a possibly possessed thing running around the organization, trust yourself and work through the tingling instinct.

Scary movies provide valuable lessons:

• Don’t be scared at work or ever hesitate.  Trust your instincts.
• Protect your “ankles” or at least all vulnerable parts and projects.
• Make good decisions – don’t run into the chain saw – find a path above it. Take the high road.
• If you hear ominous music in your ears when someone walks by…smile, turn and run.
• Teamwork Teamwork Teamwork!

 

 

Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!

You! You! You!

Rudy is the classic story of someone who was always told they were too small for whatever their dreams were. Rudy’s dream is to play college football for Notre Dame.

 

Four lessons to take away from this film are:

• Determination
• You don't have to be a superstar to be a hero.
• Believe in yourself.
• Never give up on a dream. Don't be a quitter.

 

One Thought can Stop You

 

Our thoughts really do matter, and one “goofy thought” (as Rudy calls them) can stop you dead in your tracks. If you let it take root, one thought can discourage you, derail you, and cause you to make poor choices that take you away from your goals. It’s important to have a good defense that prevents negative influences and a good offense is one that supports positive messages. Best defense – believe in yourself. Best offense – surround yourself with honest, trustworthy coworkers.

 

When the Journey Gets Tough, Don’t Seek Permission to Fail

 

Often, when the going gets tough, we seek permission to stop.  Instead of hanging in there and enduring the pain, we look to those around us for permission to quit. Of course they’ll endorse that thinking. They can’t possibly understand the mission you’re on – because, most likely, it isn’t their mission.  You will provide hundreds of reasons to quit and they will approve them all. It’s easy.  Don’t be a quitter and don’t put a friend in the position to be a quitter supporter.  Instead of seeking permission to fail… seek a different set of eyes to set your path back on target. Yes… seek permission to pause and reflect.  Then attack!

 

All Contributions are Valuable

Rudy is on the practice team. This position is not glamorous.  But, his role contributes to the team’s game day preparation. Using your talents in a positive manner to make a difference (no matter how big or small) for a particular purpose, which ultimately is a benefit to the whole, is true contribution. Not everyone can be the coach. Not everyone can be the quarterback.  But, where would the QB be without his “line”?

 

Give Your Best - Always

Rudy went to practice every day giving his whole heart and effort, even though he didn't play in the games. By doing his best every day, Rudy helped the players to prepare for the big games by making them perform and work hard at practice instead of just giving them an easy ride.

The team respected Rudy because of his hard work and commitment.  

You may not be the top rainmaker, but your coworkers DO recognize hard work. Give it your best every day.

 

Commitment

 

The ultimate lesson from Rudy’s journey is commitment. Making the decision to follow through on a dream, goal, idea, or mission regardless of the challenges and obstacles.

Stay on Track!            Stay Committed!              Never Quit!

 

 

 

Remember - Be A Titan

It’s football season! This is my favorite time of the year.  As a football coach’s daughter, the season is in my blood. And during football season, I am always reminded of leadership.  I still remember, as a little girl, sitting in the bleachers watching my Dad and the other coaches, work with their team.  (My Mom worked so my sister and I hung out with Dad in the summer—I’m sure a joy for him!)

As a fan of both movies and football, there are many, many good films about football. Remember the Titans is one of my favorites.  Why? Because it teaches all of us that when people and teams are divided by race, gender, age, geographic, or spiritual reasons, great leaders can bridge any gap and connect people.

 

Walk the Talk

 

Having a Titan - a strong, devoted leader is everything.  We all need that one person, or team of leaders, who is willing to put in all the work necessary to become a successful company. There are two main things that a captain, or leader, must always be doing: accentuating teamwork and generating a positive work environment. There is no doubt that teamwork is an absolute necessity in reaching any final goal. To develop that sense of collaboration, you must make each employee feel as though each person is a vital facet to the company as a whole, and without them, it simply would not work (even if it would). How do great leaders do this? Easy… they walk the talk. Once your employees see that you conduct your daily work in a positive way, they too will do the same, day in and day out.

 

One of my favorite quote is by Mahatma Gandhi “We must become the change we want to see.”  If you want your team to be productive…be productive. If you want people to tell you the truth… tell the truth. If you want to be respected…earn it.

 

If you get tackled, get right back up.

 

Never let the continual cheap knockdowns stand in the way of your path to victory, and ultimately, an undefeated season.

 

Regardless of how long it takes to close your first big deal or make your first sale, the key to being a strong leader is resilience. The definition of resilience varies greatly, but my favorite is “being able to flex against outside forces, but not lose your shape” i.e. never lose yourself. There will undoubtedly be things that are not in your control that will slow down your business. But, you cannot let these outside forces get you down, or get in the way, of reaching your final goal.

 

“What’s your Battle Cry?  “Mobile. Agile. Hostile.” or “MIB”

 

To get his team on the right track and working together, Coach Boone takes the Titans to an extensive football camp away from home. During one drill he yells them the question, “What are you?!” Their answer: “Mobile, Agile, Hostile!”

 

In business we should be mobile, most likely not hostile, but most importantly we must be agile. Agility is key to reaching success at the highest level. In today’s world, everything is changing at a very rapid pace. This means we must do the same in order to stay competitive. Agility’s best friend in creativity. Stay up-to-date, and relevant in your customers’ eyes.

 

I must digress for a minute.  Recently, I read an excellent book called The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. The book tells the story of the University of Washington’s 1936 eight-oar crew and their epic quest for an Olympic gold medal, a team that transformed the sport and grabbed the attention of millions of Americans. The sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the boys defeated elite rivals first from eastern and British universities and finally the German crew rowing for Adolf Hitler in the1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. The boys have struggles, as any team does. But, when in the boat they rowed as one and their cry was MIB –Mind in Boat.

 

Find a department battle cry and yell it out!

 

Having a star on your team doesn’t make you a star team

 

In Remember the Titans, the team star and quarterback gets injured due to a poor block. The back-up quarterback gets the call and steps in without missing a beat.  Businesses call this a succession plan.

 

Having a star on your team doesn’t make you a star team. Every single person contributes, and every single person deserves to be treated the same. Another key is the fact that you are only as strong as your weakest link. If one person is not pulling his or her weight everyone will suffer because of it. A leader must recognize, and make changes as these problems arise.  And leaders, please watch out for anyone who uses “I” or “My” instead of “We” or “Our”.  When you hear that…throw the flag! Penalties/issues/grandstanding/conflict is coming.

 

No Doubt.

 

Coach Henry Boone of the Titans tells his team that they are going to win. There is no doubt in his voice, and his players recognized that fact. He demanded perfection and that is what they gave him. Everyone must have that winning mentality, always. When they do, and when everyone understands the final goal of their business, nothing is impossible.

 

Ahhh, I love lessons learned from football and sports. MIB!  Mind in Business!