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Lessons Learned – #7

This is the seventh most important thing I learned in 2011:

Musical Interlude – As Rudy Vallee began crooning over the new medium of radio in 1929, Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday were 14. When Elvis Presley recorded “Heartbreak Hotel,” Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Joan Baez, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Carole King and Brian Wilson were 14. When the Beatles appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Gene Simmons and Billy Joel were 14. Music tastes are greatly influenced at that age. Our youngest hits 14 soon. She prefers Lady Gaga over Justin Bieber. That’s good. I think.

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Lessons Learned – #8

Here is the eighth most important thing I learned this year:

Wins Galore – Last week Sports Illustrated honored college basketball coaches Pat Summitt and Mike Krzyzewski as its sportspeople of the year. I recently heard Coach K tell a story on Sirius XM about his 1989 Duke team. Christian Laettner had a bad turnover that cost the Blue Devils a game. Senior stars Danny Ferry and Quin Snyder immediately went over to console the freshman, who would go on to lead Duke to national titles his junior and senior seasons. “That’s collective teamwork,” said Coach K. “No blame. No criticism. No finger pointing. We always win and lose together.”

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Lessons Learned – #9

Continuing to count down the Top 10 things I learned during 2011:

Slow Improvement – In the spring I participated as a mystery shopper by reviewing a car wash. After a 30-minute undercover investigation, I spent an hour-and-a-half completing the online report about quality, appearance and customer interaction. Compensation? Reimbursement for the $12 wash. Interestingly, my biggest recommendation – ‘Fix the fence in the back that’s a falling-down eyesore’ – remains ignored. Feedback is a missed opportunity unless you’re willing to change.

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Lessons Learned – #10

Each year the last issue of our e-newsletter focuses on some of my lessons learned. May you find inspiration among the Top 10 things that touched me during 2011.

Dropped Call – One of my clients is a service center manager for the large wireless company that until yesterday looked like it would be combining with another industry giant. When news broke last spring of that proposed union, her team found out as people called in with questions about how it would effect their service. “We miss productivity numbers and they hold an emergency meeting,” she said. “But we have a damn merger and they don’t say a word, so we hear it from our customers watching CNBC.” That’s a big ‘oops’ leaders could have avoided by simply pausing to ask, “Who do we need to tell right away?”

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Brothers United

Tonight on ESPN, the Downtown Athletic Club will announce the 77th recipient of the Heisman Memorial Trophy – awarded each year to the ‘outstanding college football player in the United States.’ Right now, players you’ve likely never heard of are participating in the 112th renewal of a contest that best exemplifies what the sport is supposed to represent.

Go Navy. Beat Army.

Go Army. Beat Navy.

With all the bad news that’s surrounded college football the past year, it’s good to wrap-up the season with a matchup that’s rooted in tradition, honor and respect… and once upon a time some darn good football. Most people aren’t aware that during an 18-year period in the middle of the last century, players from the nation’s service academies won five Heismans: Doc Blanchard, Army (1945); Glenn Davis, Army (1946); Pete Dawkins, Army (1958); Joe Bellino, Navy (1960); Roger Staubach, Navy (1963). Success didn’t end there for these gridiron legends.

Blanchard became an Air Force fighter pilot and retired as a colonel. After fulfilling his military commitment, Davis played in the NFL. Dawkins was a brigadier general who led the 101st Airborne, earned his Ph.D. and – as a civilian – was vice chairman of Bain and Company. Bellino served 28 years in the Navy and Naval Reserve, then became a successful businessman. Staubach led the Cowboys to two Super Bowl victories. In 2008, Roger the Dodger sold his real estate firm for hundreds of millions.

This year, as always, I’ll be watching. Not really caring who wins – don’t tell my former Navy fighter pilot father-in-law – just appreciating the teamwork, discipline and execution of athletes who know there are more meaningful things in their futures. Playing football for the academies (including Air Force) is most about learning to work with your unit to carry out the plan… which serves them well when they transition to young military officers.

Of course, after beating the heck out of each other for 60 minutes on the playing field, both teams will walk together toward the Cadets and Midshipmen in the stands for the playing of their songs. It’s a mutual display of admiration and acknowledgement that soon they’ll be fighting for the same side. There will be sadness for the team that comes up short on the scoreboard today – and a memory to last a lifetime.

Go Army. Beat Navy.

Go Navy. Beat Army.