This is the first part of a multi-part series covering some of the topics and ideas brought up by former ESPN producer and current Sports Spectrum Podcast host Jason Romano in his new book, “The Uniform of Leadership”. It becomes available on July 28th at anywhere books are sold, and covers lessons of leadership he learned along his phenomenal journey in the world of sports media.
No amount of success should ever trump our desire to better ourselves.
Jason Romano saw this in action when NFL star quarterback Drew Brees came to the ESPN studios in the summer of 2010. He was coming off a phenomenal 2009 season in which he led the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl XLIV victory. It was safe to say that Brees was considered one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks heading into the 2012 season. Yet, upon arrival, he asked Romano if there was a place to work out on the ESPN campus. He simply did not want to skip a single day of his strict training regimen. While other players would have just taken a couple days off and basked in the spotlight that came with such a high honor, Brees was the exact opposite. He knew that despite his recent success, nothing could stop another quarterback from taking his job the following season if he did not live up to the expectations and perform at the level that had come to be expected of him.
It brings to mind another athlete who has been called the greatest of all time in his sport: Michael “Air” Jordan. While I do not fully agree with his self-centered attitude on the basketball court, there is no doubt that he embodied this principle as a leader. The recent 10-part ESPN documentary “The Last Dance” captured this perfectly. No matter what he had done the previous season; win an NBA Title, MVP Award, Gold Medal, etc., he was always striving for more. Nothing satisfied his hunger to achieve more.
"Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, and others make it happen."
Michael Jordan
As leaders, we will likely achieve success in some form or fashion on at least one occasion. Possibly more. Without consciously thinking about it, that can go to our head, and make us ease off the pedal. It will make us relax, thinking that we’ve reached the top. Only then, that success will be short-lived. Soon it will disappear and all that we had going before will be gone. Success is hard to attain at that point.
Plenty of athletes have been picked No. 1 in the various pro sports drafts that occur each year. Think about it, how many recent No. 1 picks, in any sport can you name? Many of those who are hyped up as “the next Michael Jordan” or “the next Tom Brady” end up spending a few years on the sidelines, never really performing at the level that was expected of them. For some, the opportunity just was not there. Others experienced season ending injuries that set them back in their progress. However, for guys such as Johnny Manziel, who I watched dominate at Texas A&M, it seems like the attention and spotlight got to them a little too much, causing them to get lackadaisical and regress in the talent that they once had.
So with that said, it is important to not get too wrapped up in the praise, success and achievement that comes our way. We need to remember the examples of Drew Brees and Michael Jordan and strive for more. At the same time, we should not get so focused on attaining more success that we forget to be thankful for the opportunities and achievements. If you are too focused on the future, you will miss out on the present. If you focus too much on the present, you will miss out on what the future could hold.
Many facets of leadership involve balancing multiple things. This is no different. To be good leaders, we must balance enjoying what God has helped us accomplish, while at the same time, working hard to maintain that same level of success in the future. Not one of us is perfect. It may feel like you are on top of the world, but there is always room to improve. For a sports example, take Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady. With a phenomenal arm, Brady is second in the NFL in career passing touchdowns. He is also second in the NFL in career sacks with 500. The point is, despite being one of the greatest quarterbacks in history, Brady has areas to get better in. The same goes for each of us as leaders.
So as you lead, make sure to recognize the success you have achieved, but not lose your hunger to always improve, better yourself, and reach new heights.
If you are interested in Romano's phenomenal podcast that he does each and every week for Sports Spectrum, I encourage you to click on the link below. His interviews are not only interesting but inspiring too.
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