In the top right-hand corner of the whiteboard in my office are the words “Culture Trumps Everything.” It is a daily reminder of the importance of the people in the program over all else. Below I share a recent email from a longtime coach:.
I get asked fairly regularly why this program, or that program, is so much better than others that have the same number of kids or even may have fewer kids. Inevitably my answer is usually coaching, their feeder programs, and the support from the AD/Admin or the community. There are exceptions to that rule but good coaching matters. Reminds me of the plaque we had to memorize when I was a player at Mass Maritime quoting Joe Kennedy Sr.
I’d say the same of football coaches
In his book “Principles,” Ray Dalio, Chief Investment Officer of the world’s largest hedge fund, states, “The WHO is more important than the WHAT. Focus on being the best person you can be, and surround yourself with like-minded people. That is a formula for success.”
Jim Collins in, “Good to Great,” when analyzing some of the world’s best-performing companies emphasizes “…get the right people on the bus…”
Each of these examples is about “The Team,” and teammates’ and coaches’ commitment to shared values, shared purpose, and shared vision. I find it comforting to see these commonalities across a variety of teams even though they’re focused on widely varying endeavors.
Circling back to football (and tangentially to “the finest ships afloat”), this Friday night Sept 29th, Alumni teammates from seven different decades will gather in Annapolis, MD to see Navy’s Sprint Football Team take on Mansfield University. (Sprint Football is full-contact varsity football only with a weight limit). When I think about the commonalities of culture and culture’s importance in underpinning success, it’s not surprising to see so many former players who collectively represent so many victories on the playing field, the battlefield, and in life, return to the cradle of their culture and celebrate its legacy.
What kind of culture do you cultivate?
Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time!
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