Forget Charles Barkley and his famous line, “I am not a role model.” We are all role models to somebody. Understanding that others are watching your every step, while at the same time choosing paths of their own, is the greatest burden one can carry.
Greatness cannot be found in a win-at-all-costs approach. Dale Brown led by example. He taught life lessons, and he proved to everyone watching – even in the dog-eat-dog world of college basketball – you don’t have to sacrifice your morals to be successful.
Because WHEN EVERYONE IS WATCHING, the truly great, like Dale Brown, EMBRACE THE IDEA OF BEING A ROLE MODEL.
Honesty and loyalty will translate into longevity and success for anyone in any field, but more importantly, they are qualities that can influence others and make a difference in people’s lives.
“The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity,” Dwight D. Eisenhower once said. “Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.”
Taking risks and working for a competitive advantage doesn’t mean taking short cuts. Your integrity is worth more than anything you’ve got. More often than not, it’s the foundation of your best sales pitch.
