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Succession Planning is an integral part of leadership. It’s important to grow and develop your replacement, if only to keep you from getting stuck in a role – and miss out on a deserved promotion – because you’re too valuable to replace. (This happened to a client of mine, who was passed over twice before he asked why and learned a lesson.)

Last week at least one – and perhaps two – future Hall of Fame quarterbacks retired from the NFL. The Steelers benefitted from 18 seasons of Big Ben and have two more Super Bowl trophies on the shelf. The Bucs may have had TB12 for two seasons… yet rode his exceptional win-or-go-home attitude to a Championship in year one. Neither team has a replacement on deck, so it’s time to trade, sign a free agent or hope for a Draft hit.

Those strategies sometimes work quickly. The Rams will play in the Super Bowl in two weeks after trading their starting quarterback, two first round picks, and a third, to unleash Matthew Stafford from the dismal Lions. The Bengals went from worst to first in two seasons by landing the number one pick the year Joe Burrow just happened to reveal a generational talent.

The Patriots let Brady leave… and drafted Matt Jones – after four other quarterbacks were selected last spring. All he did was make the Pro Bowl as a rookie.

Other times it leads to a never-ending rotation of the wrong answer. (See: Jets, Giants, Broncos, Panthers, Jaguars, Vikings, Eagles, Dolphins, WFT, Texans)

The business lesson here is as simple as ABC: Always Be ‘Cruiting.

If you haven’t identified successors for your most important leaders, start thinking who on your team – or in your organization – are potential candidates. If those folks aren’t onboard, the next time you’re interviewing for an opening, ask questions that might reveal if the person in front of you has the potential to grow into a leader you need.

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Oh, Hi, Oh

Forty years ago I interviewed Jack Nicklaus at the Colonial golf tournament following the third round during which he took the lead. I was a month shy of turning 22 years old… and at the end of the line of veteran local TV reporters lined up to speak with him.

When my turn came, the Golden Bear extended his hand and said, “Hi… Jack Nicklaus.” I stammered my name. He graciously answered four easy questions and made me feel like a seasoned journalist.

The next day, he won the tournament… and there I was waiting again to speak to the world’s greatest golfer… who, at age 42, had just won for the first time in two years. He looked me in the eye and said, “Hello, David, nice to see you.”

I’m still impressed that the Ohio State legend remembered my name 24 hours later… and always have realized it had nothing to do with me. It was his amazing ability for recall. In 1995, I met his youngest son, Michael, and shared my experience. “Yes, that’s my dad,” he said. “Years ago, he learned a technique and uses it every day.” Something like: look them in the eye, shake hands, repeat the name three times, envision a friend with the same name, connect them to your friend.

These memories came rushing back recently when a ’30 Something’ client told me he was dating a woman… and needed to ask me a question about relationships. “I met her in a bar,” he said. “It was loud. She texted me her phone number and a few days later I texted back and asked if she wanted to meet for a drink.” The story continued: they went out… they hit it off… they started dating… it’s been two months.

“What do you want to ask me?”

“I was so focused on her when we met,” he said, “that I didn’t hear her name… and now I’m not sure how to ask her. What should I do?”

Coaches stay away from giving advice. Clients work with us to explore possibilities, decide actions to take, and commit to follow through. So I asked a few questions, he reflected, and came up with a plan.

Then, at the end of the session, I said, “Can I tell you a story?”

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Lessons Learned

Part I of III

Since 2007, I share my biggest lessons from the previous 12 months during December. This year meant change and adaptation for most everyone. Here are my personal learnings:

Still Waiting – The Covid journey continues… 21 months and counting. We are enduring the challenges of health care crises, supply chain disruptions, return to work, and the great resignation. I believe all this perseverance will be rewarded when the universe rebalances. Here’s wishing wonderful blessings to all those on the frontlines, especially doctors, nurses, hospital workers and the many researchers who delivered vaccines in record time.

Wanna Catch? – Sitting on the bookshelf next to where I type these words is “The Iowa Baseball Confederacy” by W.P. Kinsella, author of “Shoeless Joe.” That novel was the inspiration for the 1989 film Field of Dreams… the only movie I ever saw at a theater with my father. Thus, as the Yankees and White Sox warmed up for an August game at the Lansing Family Farm where they filmed the movie – and when Kevin Costner walked through the corn and into the specially constructed stadium – I had tears in my eyes. Can’t wait for the Cubs and Reds to return on August 11, 2022.

Crazy Genius – Wished I had bet on Elon Musk’s adventures back in May 2011, when I wrote about his creativity the first of three times in my monthly newsletter. He made a lot of early believers quite wealthy. During the past year, his untimely Tweets, panned SNL appearance, and outlandish style gained a lot of headlines. The biggest came when he revealed the need to sell $14 billion of Tesla stock… to pay an income tax bill he said is $11 billion, likely more than any American in history. While the world’s richest man may not deserve to be TIME magazine’s Person of the Year, he clearly keeps reinventing new ways to stay in the news.

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More Lessons Learned

Part II of III

These are more of the best things I learned during 2021:

Better Investor – George Lucas bet on himself way back in 1976. Offered a large sum to direct Star Wars, he opted instead for a $150,000 salary; however, he negotiated with Fox to keep merchandising rights. Since Fox recently had taken a series of losses on other movie-inspired toys, they agreed. Lucas made $45 billion off that decision. 

Go Figure – Here in Texas, the AG requested more funding for tracking and prosecuting election fraud. The Legislature authorized $2.2 million dollars and approved hiring two additional attorneys. The result? That team of crack investigators closed three cases during the year. Yes, three… as in one less than four. There were 11 million votes cast in the Lone Star State for the 2020 presidential election. 

Word Knowledge – Think I read more than 20 books this year – mostly using the free ‘Libby’ app. (Think: electronic version of your local library card.) Still, there are nearly a dozen sitting on the shelf untouched. The Japanese word “tsundoku” refers to acquiring books and letting them pile up without reading them. Note to self: change this habit during the year ahead.

Sage Advice– The best quote I saw all year came from that legendary philosopher… Matthew McConoughey: “Generosity breeds gratitude then gratitude breeds responsibility, which then breeds freedom, because the more things you are responsible for the more meaning you have in your life. That then sends you into the world with an identity. You’re about something.” Alright! Alright! Alright!

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Final Lessons Learned

Part III of III

Rounding out the many things I learned this year:

Game Changer – My favorite video of MTV’s heyday was ‘Take on Me’ by A-ha. You may recall the creative rotoscope animation that took 16 weeks to draw. What I didn’t know until recently is the EV revolution origin story is tied to the Norweigan band. Three years after taking home six Video Music Awards in 1986, lead singer Morten Harket and keyboardist Magne Furuholmen were in Switzerland, where they bought a Fiat Panda that had been converted to run on a battery and shipped it home. Then they started driving in bus lanes, parking illegally and skipping paying tolls to gain attention and encourage classification of electric vehicles. It worked. A year later, the government changed the law. Today 87% of cars sold in Norway are rechargeable and 98% of its electricity is renewable. Turns out A-ha wasn’t gone in a day.

Standing Out – When tennis star Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon, it made international sports headlines. When gymnast Simone Biles – the GOAT – chose not to participate in several events at the Summer Olympics, the mental health of athletes became front page news. It is an issue that impacts everyone, not just famous athletes; however, when those at the height of their profession show the vulnerability and candidness to openly discuss their challenges, it benefits all of society. The Houston-raised Biles definitely deserves to be TIME magazine’s Athlete of the Year.

Gift Giving – While there still are no grandkids in our family, our youngest gifted us this year with the most wonderful grand-dog: a German Shepherd/Beagle mix. He’s just about the smartest dog on the planet. Austin Pets Alive! is a no-kill rescue in the largest no-kill city in the country. When it began in 1997, the kill-rate in the Texas capital city was 87%. Today, the save-rate is 97%. Whether there or in your community, consider contributing to a no-kill shelter. Your gift might lead to a child – or a wannabe grandparent – getting a rescue dog or cat they’ll fall in love with… just like I have with Moonshine.

I’ll conclude, as always, with a quote about the most wonderful time of the year: “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” ~ Hamilton Wright Mabie

Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. Seasons Greetings. May the year ahead bring many blessings and much joy to you and your family… and continued success in all things.