Don't Be Another Statistic

Derrick Rose, Charles Woodson, and Mike McCarthy. What do they all have in common? The easy answer is they're all leaders in their own respect. Rick Reilly writes about Derrick Rose, the star guard of the Chicago Bulls, how he's playing in his home town and how he's carried the Bulls during a period where they've been hit with certain injuries to key players. I always thought Derrick Rose was self-centered and arrogant like many other athletes (I know a few come to mind). Despite Derrick's allegations at Memphis I really have a new found respect for the way he speaks: "maam, sir, thanks for coming out to the game tonight, and I appreciate you wearing my jersey." You don't get that in this money crazy era of professional sports. Reilly then asks him:

"Who's your vote for MVP?" 
Derrick Rose: "Can I vote for myself?"
Reilly: "Sure"
Derrick Rose: "Me"

I felt that this wasn't an example of arrogance; Derrick goes on to explain himself saying he's worked so hard for this. All of the great leaders have that little cockiness about them (their convictions perhaps) that propel them to be their best. I loved that.

Then we looked at Charles Woodson's post game Super Bowl speech:

A true leader grips the heart of the people he's involved with. Woodson is that type of person - revealing a vision for his teammates to grab on to: "To the White House" (the place where all championship teams in American professional sports go to). Woodson is the type of person that his teammates wanted to play for and his coaches wanted to coach for. In the end, the passion he displayed allowed his teammates to play with that same passion, which made them into champions. Many times the followers don't want to be outworked by the best players on the team so it gets everyone to have a great work ethic and achieve their goals. Tim Duncan and Tom Brady are like this. A great story.

Finally, Mike McCarthy's (Green Bay Packers Super Bowl Winning Coach) motivational technique the night before the Super Bowl was to fit his players for their Super Bowl rings - obviously before they even won. We realized that McCarthy was literally giving his players something to hold onto, a vision of his that was now theirs. A championship was out there for them to grab - and they took it. However, we also said that Mike Tomlin of the Steelers couldn't use this technique because it wasn't the first time many of the Steelers players would be putting on a Super Bowl ring in their careers. Whatever it was, it made the Packers hungrier than the Steelers and I loved the cockiness. Similar to Derrick Rose - the Packers also believed that they were the best because they worked so hard to get to that point.

Looking at iconic sports figures is not all we do in this class. We tackled an article by James Kouzes and Barry Posner who are both established speakers and writers on leadership from UC-Santa Clara: The Five Practices of Exemplary Student Leadership.

We discussed three of the practices: modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, and challenging the process. We decided that modeling the way is forming the identity of your organization. It's about changing the identity of an organization if it's one that needs to be reworked. So for example, a great coach who comes into a losing program implements a philosophy of winning - This is the way we do things around here from here on out. It's about setting goals, knowing what you want as the leader, and deciding what's best for the group. Modeling the way is knowing your values and setting the example with those values.

Kouzes and Posner demonstrate that when inspiring a shared vision the leader needs to envision the future by imagining exciting and better possibilities. The leader's vision needs to become the shared vision of the people he/she is leading. We watched one of President Obama's campaign speeches as an example (skip to about 8:05):

Whether you're a supporter of Obama or not I don't think you can argue against his speaking prowess. He captured the hearts and minds of several generations when he campaigned in 2008. Inspiring the vision is helping people to imagine exciting goals, and making my (your) vision OUR vision.

"Tonight belongs to you"

"Nothing can stand in our way"

"There's going to be a challenge, but this is how we're going to overcome it: With Hope."

He gives his followers purpose and motivation; his use of the word hope is almost religious.

"People are going to tell us 'we shouldn't try to change' or 'we can't.'"

He lets his followers know that there is going to be a challenge, but "What was America built on?" "The citizens of America are not about giving up, it's not how this country was built." Giving people a sense of nostalgia like this makes them feel that this election is as important as the Revolutionary War. "We Americans are going to take back America!"

"Yes WE can, Yes WE Can, Yes WE Can..."

Over and over the chanting gave me chills. (Can you imagine thousands of people believing in you like that and chanting your vision?)

Obama's vision became his voters' vision.

"This is the destiny of our nation."

"They said no to the slaves and abolitionists, immigrants, MLK" - he's talking about all different kinds of people here and giving people so much imagery. The steelworker in Pittsburgh, the farmer in South Carolina - and you think to yourself: Oh that's me!

"One people, one nation." He's giving his listeners something to hold on to. He's giving them ownership and possession of their dreams. It's the same tactic McCarthy used by having his players get fitted for their Super Bowl rings.

Whether it be with the Super Bowl Trophy or in Obama's case - Change, these things are right out there for the taking - and McCarthy and Obama are exclaiming to their followers: what will you do with it? Inspiring to say the least.

Finally, leaders challenge the process. They don't respect the status quo, leaders are innovative - they seek change and want the situation they're involved in to improve. Leaders will fail because they're not afraid to experiment and make mistakes, but the great leaders learn from those mishaps along the way.

I ended class with a person I've come to know over the past few years. Jason Ferruggia is one of the world's most renowned strength and conditioning coaches and I've had the opportunity to train with him at his gym in New Jersey when I'm home over winter and summer breaks. He not only has had a significant impact on my athleticism and health, but he's also a great motivator. I brought in an article he recently wrote on his blog about his sudden move to California (he hated the cold winters in Jersey - I can't blame him). Jay practices what he preaches, is a hardcore Vegan, is very strong, and just knows what he's talking about. He's been in the strength game since '94. Here's the article for you to read: Californication.

The point I wanted everyone to understand is what Jay articulated via Henry Rollins. Jay created this Renegade brand. Being a renegade is something every leader needs to be. They need to "Challenge the Process", rip apart whatever mundane situation they are apart of, grip it by the horns and go full steam ahead with your vision. Jay talks about taking control of your life and being a renegade, well in terms of leadership we're talking about being your own person, innovating, believing in your set of convictions and not taking no for an answer. My dad always used to say don't be a follower. Be different. And I loved him for that, maybe that's what makes Wesleyan such a great fit for me.

"Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." Renegades aren't afraid to take risk and neither are leaders.

"Don't regret the things you didn't do more than the things you did do." Jay is right. Be your own person, live your own life, live in the moment, and be your own leader. Take control and reach for whatever it is that you want to grab and don't be another statistic in this world that's filled with them.

Be a leader,

Joey