As I sit here, watching the opening night of the 2009 NBA season (WOO!), I couldn’t help but get the thinking. Well, it started before tonight’s game with the Cleveland Cavs & Boston Celtics. The NBA held the championship ring ceremony tonight for the Boston Celtics. For those who don’t watch much basketball, the Celtics won the 2008 Championship and the ceremonies are always held during the following year’s opening night. Anywho, I watched the 10 or so minute ceremony with awe and emotion running through me. I’m definitely no Boston fan as I rooted against them and for the L.A. Lakers during the Finals, but I had these feelings in me as I watched the Celtics players receive their championship rings with pure joy on their faces. Specifically though, Paul Pierce, who showed the greatest emotion as he let tears of joy stream down his cheeks as they announced his name, handed him the championship trophy and lastly, received his ring.
I definitely got caught up in the moment and felt his emotions, those that only champions feel when accomplishing the goals they’ve set out for themselves. The Celtics set their goals before the season started and put their heart and soul into reaching it and did so as they became champions.
The goal of becoming a champion is no different in business than it is with sports. Regardless of what industry we’re in and what our job entails, we all (most?) strive to be a champion in one way or another. Whether it’s the small goals we set for ourselves or that one big illustrious accomplishment that we spend our heart and soul into (eg. Celtics). Whatever it may be, becoming a champion takes heart and dedication whether it be finally getting your MBA or nailing that first big client of yours.
I ask you, what makes you want to become a champion? What lights that fire inside of you and gets you going day in and day out? What makes you want to feel the emotion that Paul Pierce felt tonight receiving his ring? I want to hear from you.
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posted on October 28th, 2008 - 9:43 pm
You know, sometimes for me it is not what, but rather keeping my eye on the ball, so I work really hard at keeping my game face on to stay focused. I remind myself frequently of what my goals are, then get in that mindset as I go about my work. Since I play sports, I think about it in terms of setting up and executing plays. So before I go to meetings, I think about what my goals are, what other people might be bringing to the table, how I would respond to different situations and how I would respond to something I hadn’t thought of. Then, in the meeting, I think about executing as I interact with people- listening, how I listen, how I ask questions, did I reinforce what that person was saying, did I work to get buy-in as I propose a project. Some people have the grace and skill to execute this stuff without thinking about it, but for me I have to really plan for it. So making a sports analogy to it works for me because I love playing sports.
As for the passion part,I need to be working in an environment where I am constantly learning. I think living in Japan for so long and becoming fluent in that language set me up to deal with a lot of complex learning all the time. So working with technology and helping others plan their strategies for using it works great for me. Throw in the strategy piece in my work interactions and I am in hog heaven!
posted on October 28th, 2008 - 9:58 pm
@Deb - Absolutely love your take on it. Particularly your sports analogy (as I’m an athlete at heart as well). You made great points that many people, including myself, can take to the house/office and actually use to better the overall game plan in accomplishing what we set forth.
posted on October 29th, 2008 - 8:34 pm
Sports related to business/work/life… I love it. I have played sports since age 4. Although I’ll take on anybody in any sport(any challenges?) my “thing” was baseball. In High School I had an old school coach who played college baseball with Andre Dawson and legend has it, was beat out of the big leagues by Joe Morgan. I can still remember him talking to me, trying to pump me up while another student was driving the drivers ed car. I can also remember walking to the batting cages with him behind me yelling, “LSU! Alabama!” in an attempt to make me work harder towards playing college ball. I miss those days. I even miss him saying “juniors up, GO! Seniors up, GO!” or “lets go, you’re gonna run till I get tired.” Yes, I miss someone running the dog mess out of me, as well as A.M. workouts before school.
I tell friends who played college sports that they are lucky they still had someone to push them, to motivate them to put in the work it takes to get where they want to be. When you get in the real world, there’s no coach that MAKES you run. Sure, you have your boss. And sure, a boss should motivate and inspire to get the best out their people. But when you leave at 5 o’clock, it’s up to you.
We can all be happy that we have a job, but happy shouldn’t be confused with satisfied. I want to always be happy, never satisfied. I’ve said before, complacency is the enemy of drive and ambition. Are you satisfied being on the team or do you want playing time to make a contribution? Do you want to be a role-player or part of the starting five? I want to be an all-star. I want people in my community to recognize me as a solid copywriter. I want to someday make an impact in social media so that Chris Brogan, Jason Falls, and some Sonny Gill guy know me by name. I doubt Paul Pierce was able to wear that ring without putting in work, without extra effort. When talent is equal, hustle wins every time. I won’t get a marketing ring… but being accomplished, successful, and learning everyday because I love what I do… that’s my game. Being valuable, inspired, and always improving so that I can be successful and provide for my soon to be wife and future kids… That’s my championship.
posted on October 29th, 2008 - 8:58 pm
@Michael - First off, to anyone who thinks your comment is too long, please read it - it’s well worth it!
I love sports analogies and think they fit so well with business. You are so right that we don’t have ‘coaches’ that push us on a daily basis but that’s what I love when you meet great mentors in life that do that. Nonetheless, it’s a matter of a daily push that we have to do ourselves to reach our goals.
Happy vs. Satisfied - love it! Complacency is something I make sure to stay away from. If I ever get complacent with life, there’s nothing else for me to accomplish or do. Keep pushing, growing and evolving yourself, your business and as you said, your happiness.