Don’t Let The Moment Get Too Big
With the start of the college football season, I have heard the phrase “Not allowing the moment to get too big” said of quarterbacks a couple of times over the last couple of weekends. We can learn from this phrase that maintaining perspective and staying calm in a situation that might seem overwhelming or emotionally charged is an important attribute. Being a college football quarterback is a perfect example for this. A maturing quarterback and other maturing leaders learn to not let the significance or intensity of a moment escalate to the point where it causes unnecessary stress, anxiety, or impulsive reactions.
Essentially, it’s about keeping composure and not letting the moment’s importance overshadow good judgment or personal stability. The quarterback/football game example here reminds us that maintaining calmness, composure, and steady decision-making amidst high energy and intensity is the name of the game (pun intended).
Never High Never Low
Prior to the Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys football game last night (Dallas sneaked past Detroit 20-19) I heard an interview with Detroit Lions Head Coach, Dan Campbell. In the interview, Campbell said of Lions quarterback, Jared Goff, “He’s never high, he’s never low. He’s always the same.” Campbell made this comment after being asked what kind of leader Goff was. When he said this it gave me pause because the leader that remains consistent in their demeanor and behavior regardless of the circumstances or challenges they face truly is a treasure.
This trait is the leader that remains calm, composed, and rational, even during times of success or failure. They do not let their emotions dictate their actions and are able to maintain a steady and level-headed approach in their decision-making. This consistency can often inspire others and instill confidence in the leader’s ability to lead effectively.
Adversity Can Sharpen Us
Yesterday, I heard Purdue University’s head football coach, Ryan Walters, in an interview prior to the Michigan game react to the adversity surrounding the allegations of Michigan’s signal stealing. This post is not about those allegations or any of the drama surrounding that. It is about his comment and what we can take away from it. Coach Walters said that he told his team to, “Let the adversity sharpen you.” I loved this comment because we all face adversity at some point or another. This idea of letting it sharpen us is one we should take to heart.
The phrase “Let the adversity sharpen you” means that when faced with or difficult situations, you should use them as opportunities to grow and become stronger. Walters even discussed letting it sharpen the team’s focus. Instead of letting adversity defeat us, we should let it shape us into a better version of ourself. It implies that adversities can be seen as stepping stones for personal growth and development.
K.O.B.E.
Today, on this Super Bowl Sunday, ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown ran a great tribute to Kobe Bryant with reflections from pro football players. Click here to watch the video. One of the pro football players made the comment that they had learned so much from Kobe and had never met him or known him personally. Samantha Ponder and Randy Moss made very moving comments following the video. This made me reflect on what had I learned from this NBA great that I never met.
This loss needs to be a reminder to all that there are always people watching and using us as an example. While Kobe had a checkered past with mistakes that left scars on his life, there is still a great deal of positive examples to take from his life. What examples will others remember and take from your life?
Here’s my takeaways from Kobe:
K – Keep fighting and Kill the opposition. He taught us to make the opposition believe they could never play at the level we play.
O – Make your purpose and passion become your Obsession. He taught us to fall in love with the process of what we do.
B – Believe that if others can do something, you can too. When we follow in the footsteps and model our actions and habits after successful people, we can get similar or even better results.
E – Embrace the mantra of MAMBA mentality. Kobe taught us that hard work outweighs talent every time. We were also taught to trust the process. Kobe said, “Without studying, preparation, and practice, your leaving the outcome to fate. I don’t do fate.”
Let’s remember Kobe by not doing fate.
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