Sum Success

 

Some of the greatest TV shows of all time featured great ensemble casts. 

MASH.

Cheers. 

Seinfeld. 

Having the ability to put talented individuals together so that they create a better sum than the individual parts is a gift.  Having the ability to know your role as the individual in that ensemble cast is even a greater gift.  

It takes self-awareness and having a keen sense of the greater good.  You need to realize your own strengths and weaknesses and how to balance those with others. 

Doesn't matter if it's a cast, a team, a staff, or even a family.  The rules of "the ensemble" remain the same. 

Most of you know one of my favorite personal examples.  The 2023 youth football coaching staff. We coached three years together and what made it work was the balance of strengths and weaknesses, the program blueprints, and a common vision.  We won a lot of games but more importantly, we knew our success was going to be graded on the long game with our kids. 

To make it work, the SUM of the parts always needs to be greater than the individuals. 

Stronger together, than apart. 

  

Joe of All Trades

 

The week that was.

Did three Packer talk radio segments in two different markets.

Had an amazing date night with my wife at one of our all-time favorite restaurants.

Conducted a hugely successful client marketing seminar with over 75 clients in attendance.

Hung out with my son.

Public address work for the HS lacrosse tourney game.

Worked a charity event at my favorite bar.

Got a couple of good workouts in.

Brunched with dear friends.

That's a good week. For sure.

They say Jack of all trades and master of none but I beg to differ. Mastery is in the eye of the beholder and I feel I was batting pretty well with all of my endeavors.

I feel this is one of the most underrated keys to life. Do a diversity of things. Experience a diversity of experiences. Nike says it best, "just do it." Everything you can. Put yourself out there as often as possible. Don't get me wrong, everything wasn't perfect but that's ok. That's to be expected.

Looking back on this week today, I just had to smile.

Finished off with some creative penning.

168 hours well spent indeed.

Random Barstool Lessons

 

I've always said people come into our lives for either a reason, season, or a lifetime.  

I had one of those "reason" encounters recently. 

Cue Jim and Tony. 

I went into one of my favorite watering holes to have lunch and to watch the Bucks obliterate the Heat.  

Two old-timers (I use this term out of respect) came in and sat around the corner of the bar.   They ordered beers and tried to crane their necks to see the game.  They meandered around and asked if they could sit by me to get a better view of the game.  I told them "absolutely...the more the merrier."  

They introduced themselves and you could tell right away they were best friends for life. They had known each other since they were kids and this was the first time since the pandemic hit that they reconnected in public over a cold one. 

They were like bar virgin 21-year-old kids again, looking over the menu and ordering drinks and fare that they probably never ordered before but felt the urge to explore. 

Lately, I haven't been myself (probably a lot of that is going around as we start coming out of this mess). I got to talking to Jim and Tony and it was just what the doctor ordered.  They told me about their work, their retirement, their family, and the loves of their lives and they were absolutely ecstatic to be out again.  It was truly a breath of fresh air.  

My two takeaways? 

Jim told me "if you love what you do, you will never look at it as work...but more like play." 

Tony said, "live life like you stole it." 

I introduced them to the owners of the bar who were touched that they chose their bar to reunite in for the first time in months and I went on my way.  

Totally pulled me out of my funk (ironically, I was at a bar called Funk's) and put me in a better place. 

A reason.  

Thanks, Jim.  Thanks, Tony.  

Next one is on me.