Success in Everything You Do

In Derek Jeter's biography, The Captain, he makes the comment that "All great leaders are the individuals who know how to find success."

Leaders work the hardest to achieve the goals they set for themselves, and the funny thing is that their goals actually come true.

Wesleyan's own Bill Belichick '78, P'07 had something great to say about finding success (aspects of strong leadership are in this):

You can analyze performance a thousand different ways, but in the end it’s simple. You can do your best and still lose. Success comes when everyone you are working with is totally dedicated and focused on getting the details right. Don’t spend your time worrying about the competition. Don’t worry about whether other people believe in you. Whatever your game, if you work hard, work together and believe in yourselves, you will experience a peak performance.

It's important to realize that in order to achieve something you must put in the effort to attain it. Whether you win or lose, it's about the effort that you put in.

If you half-ass something, you're going to get half-ass results. If you go all out, you may fall a little short of your goal, but at least you know in your heart that you did everything imagineable to achieve your goal and that's when you become "successful," maybe not in the wins and losses column, but you know you the way you prepared and you should be happy...

It's not about who you're up against, or the economic climate affecting your business - it's what did you do today, over 3 months, or over a year to accomplish what you set out to do.

It's not about the competition, the competition is yourself, and it's how you prepare to be the best company, team, or individual out there. The people who continually make excuses are the ones without the jobs, or the money, or the girls, or who are left wishing they had what they could only whine about.

50 Cent once said, "I have the opportunity to make a dream a reality," and he wasn't going to let jealousy, a lack of motivation, or time stop him from being one of the most successful rappers ever.

They told Tim Tebow he'd never be a 1st round draft pick coming out of the University of Florida. Who's laughing now after he was the 25th pick of the 2010 draft. They told him he'd never be a starting quarterback in the NFL. I think we know who's winning that argument.

"You must show no mercy, nor have any belief whatsoever in how others judge you, for your greatness will silence them all."

Amy Schulman Wesleyan Class of '82 on Leadership in NY Times

Thought this article was great. Amy Schulman is a Wesleyan graduate class of 1982 and works on the board at Pfizer. She was interviewed on what her leadership style is - she also talks about what she looks for when she interviews potential candidates.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/business/amy-schulman-of-pfizer-on-demonstrating-leadership.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&ref=business&adxnnlx=1323789601-onLzNWzjsIf2yNbpzg7Kjg

Guest Speakers Dennis McCauley and Tom Arrix Evaluate Effective Forms of Leadership

“Don’t be afraid to be the early adapter. Don’t be afraid to run with an idea.”

– Dennis McCauley

Strategies of Leadership welcomed two proven business leaders Mr. Dennis McCauley and Mr. Tom Arrix. Mr. McCauley was the former co-president of network sales and marketing for Univision Communications, a Spanish-language television network, while Mr. Arrix is the current vice president of sales in the U.S. for Facebook. Both gentlemen shared their personal experiences and the leadership techniques they thought were effective throughout their careers. Additionally, they supplied advice to our class on what it takes to be a successful leader, from the extent of leading oneself to leading a multinational company.

Mr. Arrix first discussed the importance of being your own individual leader and to “be intellectually curious.” Today, everyone is overly qualified and talented that the best way to separate yourself from your peers is to help management understand what type of person you are behind your job title. “It is important to become well-respected and well-known because you are not going to get to the next level, especially in the media business, if the people around you do not know you as a person, “ stated Mr. Arrix. “As people become more familiar with you, they get a better idea of what you plan on getting out of the job. Most importantly, why you are here and what gets you out of bed everyday,” he added. These are the type of characteristics employers look for. Treat everyday as an opportunity to meet someone new and to learn from them. Curiosity shows the environment around you that you care – a great individualistic leadership technique.

In understanding one another, a successful working environment is created and goals are reached. This understanding drives leadership throughout Facebook and all successful firms, teams, organizations, etc. Mr. McCauley mentioned, “You are never going to achieve greatness if you don’t have the right people onboard. You need people who are going to believe in your vision.” It is not always about having the most talented players, but the key to success at any level is having the right ones. Those are the people who will go the extra mile and have an appetite to learn. Those are the people all leaders want on their teams.

Both leaders agreed that the most important aspect of being a leader is finding the right people. The right people are the ones who have often times failed, but have learned from the failures. This is similar to our discussion on how the most effective leaders admit to their faults. Humbleness at the top creates an atmosphere of effective followers where innovation and creative thinking are encouraged. People are not scared of losing their job, but actually more focused on what they can do to make the place around them better. Mr. McCauley also mentioned that you want to hire people better than you and who are different than you. That will help make the working environment unique and enjoyable. What Mr. Arrix shared revealed that this is how things are done at Facebook and Mr. McCauley agreed. "When I walked into Facebook for the first time, I got that feeling that is was a great place," mentioned Mr. McCauley. From our discussions, Mr. McCauley and Mr. Arrix helped us under who they were as people. In doing so, they undoubtedly revealed their similarities to many of the other proven leaders we have studied throughout the semester.

Mr. McCauley concluded that proven leaders worked hard to become respected and that even though some people are naturally gifted with leadership skills, the best leaders are the individuals who observe, listen, and study the greatest leaders of past and present generations. Leaders are those who seek information to make themselves better every day. Everyone has their own inner leader, waiting to be cultivated, but it’s up to you to discover it through hard work and self-assessment.

“Leaders are people to be studied because you just don’t get that way. Leaders are the best learners and observers – they live everyday as an experience.”

Coach Drew Black on the Importance of RESPECT

“It’s fourth and one and you need a stop to win the game. Do you have what it takes?” –Coach Drew Black

On Tuesday, our class - Strategies of Leadership, welcomed proven Wesleyan University leader Drew Black. For those unfamiliar with Drew Black, he is currently Wesleyan’s head wrestling and strength and conditioning coach. He has led individual Wesleyan wrestlers to the NCAA Division III Tournament five out of the last six years and his team to back to back 3^rd place finishes in the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Conference Championships the past two seasons. His 131 career victories over the last 13 seasons make him the winningest wrestling coach in school history. Coach Black is a campus figure we chose to bring in to share his thoughts on the importance of respect in becoming an

effective leader.

Coach Black began the discussion by asking the class what we believed garnered respect on our respective Wesleyan athletic teams. “Who do you respect on your team?” asked Coach. We mentioned that we respect the best players, the hardest workers, and the individuals with the most character. Coach Black agreed and added that he respects those with the best worth ethic, both on the mats and in everyday life. The one comment in response to Coach’s original question that stuck with me most came from Wesleyan senior field hockey captain Morgan McCauley. “I respect those who work the hardest for their success and are modest about it,” stated Morgan. “This doesn’t necessarily mean the most talented player, but the player who makes the most out of his or her talents through hard work and commitment to the team.” Respect should never be given. Respect must always be earned.

We also discussed how we as seniors are all leaders. Regardless of having the actual ‘Captain’ title, we all have a responsibility to lead our younger peers and teammates in all aspects of life. As student-athletes we have the responsibility to show up every day, whether it be to class or to practice, with a positive attitude and efficient work ethic. Just as we aspired to the upperclassmen when we first came to Wesleyan, these individuals look up to us. “It is our responsibility to influence those around us and the underclassmen tend to be the ones influenced the most by our actions. Therefore, our job is to lead by example and motivate the younger guys when things may not be going as planned,” stated Wesleyan senior football player Derrick Williams. This does create a sense of added pressure, but undoubtedly prepares us for future endeavors. Responsibility is important and at times stressful, but developing the ability to conquer those challenges will only make us better off down the road.

Strategies of Leadership would love to thank Coach Black for taking his time to share his experiences and knowledge on a pressing topic. There is no question Coach Black is an effective leader. Now the question is, ARE YOU?

CAPTAIN DEREK

“You just try to play hard because the least you can do is go out there and give 100% effort. It doesn’t mean you’re always going to get the job done or be successful, but the last thing you want to do, when it’s all said and done, is wish you had tried harder.”

-Derek Jeter

(This blog was never intended to come out after last night's events, but nonetheless I add insult to injury because that was the most pathetic sports moment of my life.)

Derek Jeter is one of the greatest leaders in the history of professional sports. Certainly his 3000 hits, 5 World Series Titles, 5 Gold Gloves, and numerous other baseball accolades lock him into the Baseball Hall of Fame, but when it’s all said and done we should remember The Captain for everything he taught us about being a leader- both to himself and the greatest professional sports franchise in history (Although I am hard felt to admit this as a member of Red Sox Nation, the Yankees do have 27 World Championships, which is more than any other professional sports team).

Throughout his life, Derek Jeter (DJ3K) has exhibited numerous forms of leadership in achieving greatness; the two most notable forms being setting goals high (and, of course working endlessly to achieve those goals) and leading by example. In Tuesday’s class, Wesleyan senior Coale Mechlin commented on Jeter’s ways. “I think Jeter has enjoyed so much success because he is so good at what he does. Everyone respects the guy because of the way he carries himself and how hard he works.”

From an early age, DJ3K was known to set his goals high. At age 9 he told his mother that he was going to play in the Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. He ate, slept and lived baseball. From his grandmother to his sister and elsewhere, Derek was always looking for someone to play baseball with. He was passionate for the game and that passion was slowly shaping him into quite the ballplayer. DJ3K believed in himself and the amount of work he put in over the years proved that. “There is always going to be someone who is better than you, but there is no reason someone should outwork you,” mentioned Jeter. This is the type of positive attitude that all great leaders possess.

Additionally, DJ3K displayed the ability to lead by example. In the clubhouse, on the field and in society, Jeter has made his presence felt by all. He was never intimidated by teammates and confronted them if he didn’t like something – signs of a great leader. For example, DJ3K approached a Yankee pitcher who made negative hand gestures after an infielder committed an error. “We don’t do that kind of thing on this team,” stated Jeter. By holding himself accountable for his actions, he forces others to follow. “He doesn’t put blame on others,” stated classmate and Wesleyan senior Ali Singer. “When you look up to someone you want that person to show he or she is human. A great leader admits to his or her mistakes,” Ali added. DJ3K admits when he makes a mistake and forces others to do the same.

What our class loved about DJ3K was that he was very relatable. He likes hanging out, women, and partying, but has never let that get in the way of what he is trying to accomplish (Contrarily, our class discussions proved Michael Vick and Tiger Woods did.). “Jeter gets along with everyone and is able to deal with personality differences, but the second someone gets out of line he is right there to humble them. That’s the sign of a leader,” stated Wesleyan senior AJ Ferraro.

Congrats to Captain Derek on all his accomplishments. All young athletes look up to DJ3K and although I am older now, I still share that admiration. Derek Jeter is and will be a model for athletes and leaders to come. Much like Coach Whalen, DJ3K is a born leader.

Jim Collins - Eric Mangini - Mike Whalen: LEADERS

Our class this week revolved around a series of videos on how effective leaders gain effective followers. The first video was an interview with Jim Collins. Jim is the author of two National best sellers, Built to Last and Good to Great, which we will reference continuously throughout the semester. In the interview, Collins makes a great point on the conditions in which he believes leadership is most effective. He states, “True leadership only exists when people follow, if they have the freedom to not follow. If I put a gun to your head I can make you do something, but I haven’t led you anywhere.” He later says, “If the people truly have the freedom to follow, they are not going to follow if in the end: a.) it’s about you or b.) you’re unwilling to sell the mills.” I believe Collins hit the nail on the head with this one. If a leader plans to be successful, he or she must have the respect and commitment of the team working under them. This can only be achieved if the followers actually believe the leader’s vision is for the greater good and not personal goals. Our senior classmate Geoff Mucha had a great comment on this issue. “Today, people are using leadership positions as a platform to advance professionally. When employees see this, they are less inept to believe in the leader,” stated Geoff. Our class agreed. We also concluded that a balance of personal and company goals is key for both leaders and followers. Mike Barsotti summed it up nicely. “Air on the side of productivity,” Mike stated.

The second clip was an interview hosted by Wesleyan in 2010 with ’94 Wesleyan graduate Eric Mangini. As some of you might know, Eric was a head coach in the National Football League with the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns. The clip fit our class perfectly as not only does Mangini have a personal connection with Wesleyan, but he also focuses his interview on leadership. The comment that stuck with me most was when Mangini talked about recruiting players at the 2:22 mark of the interview. He states, “I drive the personnel guys crazy. They’ll come in and tell me about a guy’s 40. They’ll tell me about his broad jump, how many tackles he had, and I don’t really care about that. I don’t care about the player until you can tell me about the person because I know that one guy is going to affect five guys in the locker room either positively or negatively. “ In other words, you can have the talent, you can have the grades, you can have all the skill in the world, but if you don’t have the heart you will never reach your full potential. In some cases, you might even negatively influence team or company goals. Wesleyan senior Colin Hartwig stated, “Recruiting people with value - by knowing he is a good person, then you can trust him. You can trust that he will be at work on time, value his job, and be an asset in more than the traditional ways.” Jim Collins talks continuously about having the right people. The right people are any team, firm, or organizations most valuable asset. Those are the people who know how to deal with the challenges and overcome them because they are willing to go the extra mile and do whatever it takes.

The final video was an interview with current Wesleyan head football coach and ’83 graduate Mike Whalen. By the tone of his voice and his first comment you can without doubt tell Coach Whalen is a born leader. Coach Whalen states, “The first words out of my mouth when I met with the team…..was guys we are going to win now.” I am a competitive person and when I heard this chills ran through my body. Even though I am not on the football team, I felt like I immediately accepted Coach Whalen’s identity. He didn’t sit there in front of Wesleyan Alum’s and current coaches and preach NESCAC championship or anything like that, but rather put it simply by saying “we are going to win now.” That’s deep. I have been around sports all my life and never heard anything so meaningful. Would you follow?

-A leader laying out the most simplistic vision possible, yet the most effective vision.

In class we discussed that this was probably so effective because of his reputation and I agreed to some extent. (For those unfamiliar with Coach Whalen, he was the head coach at rival Williams College for six seasons posting a 38-10 overall record during that time.) However, everyone wants to win regardless and for that, he earned the respect upon hiring and will someday lead Wesleyan football to the big prize, a NESCAC championship. Is this even up for debate? Coach Mike Whalen is the right person for the job. He is a born leader.

Effective Long-Term Leaders

In class on Tuesday we discussed long-term effective leadership. We determined that the most effective leaders believe in themselves and their strategies. They are confident people, but also admit when they are wrong. This is the type of check and balance system that eliminates a leader from appearing arrogant or cocky. Wesleyan senior Liz Chabot stated, “You need confidence in everything you do, but effective leaders do not let their egos get the best of them.” Our class agreed. We also determined that creating a family-like working atmosphere where all opinions are equally valued is important to long-term success. Obviously the leader has the last say, but individuals in a firm or on a team should be able to think freely and feel important. When employees and team members feel valued they are far more likely to perform at their best. Wesleyan senior Derrick Williams supported this idea. “The CEOs were not always around, but when they were they took the staff out to lunch on them. This created a feeling of importance and made us work hard everyday regardless of whether or not they were around.” Part of being an effective leader is having effective followers. In our coming class, we will discuss how a leader can build character in his or her followers- the type of character that appears when people are not watching.

Best,

Salah