Yesterday I shared some bullet points from Ed Molitor I grabbed at the "Unleashing Greatness" seiminar and today wanted to do the same with the many nuggets I grabbed from Don Yaeger. I've known Don for over 20 years including one season where he spent the year with our LSU team and he is sincerely one of the most genuine people I have met that cares deeply about helping people -- a great writer and a great speaker. Here's what I learned from him back in April:
BEING A GREAT TEAMMATE
Cubs culture - “fun” - disco ball in locker room for post game wins—relieve pressure
Theo Epstein: Must have the guts to have uncomfortable conversations — “truth”
Great teammates are…
David Ross asked his Braves teammates and they wrote on chalkboard
Accountability checklist
“Ultimate servant teachers”
Ross played only 35% of the time in 4 years with the Braves. 400 games he did not play
Would be on the top step high-fiving teammates between innings
50% of MLB wanted to sign him — a back up catcher
“Glue guy” — created value
Started 4 times in the World Series
DY: “Being a great teammate is a learned behavior.”
Glue guy: Shane Battier — 2-time NBA Teammate of the Year
DY: “Being a great teammate is hard work.”
Asked Becky Hammonds about some of great accomplishments and she replied that she had had 11 different players that were all-starts on her team. About taking teammates with you.
Upon her first meeting with Jayne Appeal, Hammonds said: “I’ve studied your game and I know how I’m going to make you better.”
When manager Joe Madden first took over the Cubs he had t-shirts made that said “Try Not To Suck.”
DY: “Be invaluable without being the most valuable.”
Epstein: “My great fear is that we are more driven by analytics and guys like David Ross get lost.”
DY: “Celebrate great teammates.”
WHAT MAKES A GREAT TEAM GREAT
Camaraderie - “I appreciate you.”
The key to USA Basketball — they understand their why
Success leaves clues
Successful people that Don has studied all had one common request — share with us what you see in us and what your learned form others.
Enron listed “integrity” as their major core value. There’s a different between declaring it and living it.
Culture = Behaviors
Behaviors = Habits
Habits = Success
DY: “Culture happens by design or default.”
Culture is…
...values, attitudes, standards
...acceptable to team environment
...common language of your team
Coach K: Adapt and embraced change...understand your “why”
Awe Factor: USA Basketball (Tennessee & UConn)
Jerry Colangelo: Wanted consistency in coaching USA
Coach K—assistant on Dream Team...great coach...began at West Point
Coach K in taking over USA Basketball: “walk in and do a listening tour.”
Coach K asked USA players to live, sleep, eat like soldiers for 3 days
Create “feel it” moments — Dog Tag Story
2012 London—Arlington National Cemetery with USA Team
“Know why” vs. ‘Feel why”
#1 motivation for millennials — work where it matters. Pay was ranked #6.
Generation Z — “feel it” moments
Make-A-Wish — mission movement.
3 Action Items
1. Ask your team the question
2. Create feel it moments
3. Think of impact
WHAT MAKES THE GREAT INDIVIDUAL GREAT
Michael Jordan Camp — $1.5 million for Make-A-Wish
Key to MJ — hated to lose.
Got up and shot at 4 AM the day after he got cut
When inducted to Hall of Fame, invited 7 kids from his high school team that beat him out
DY: “Loss is not a failure until you make it an excuse.”
4 Threats of Greatness
1. Greatness is available to us all...do common things uncommonly well. Do extra
2. It’s not physical aptitude but mental, emotional and spiritual discipline
3. They are all extremely coachable
4. Greatness required proper “nutrition” — what are you feeding yourself?
Warrick Dunn struggled with depression. Message from his mom: “Don’t be bitter — get better.”
Swen Nater-
Cut twice — never played HS ball
Goal - own an automotive shop
John Wooden: you will never outwork your inner circle.
DY: “Your responsibility is to grow your inner circle. Know the value of associations.”
DY: “Be prepared for change before change is needed.”
Coach K: Had to change within before One & Done
Rooms One & Dones with an Upperclassmen
DY: “My life changed when I started seeking out mentors.”
Understand the importance of a shared vocabulary.
Internal language
All Blacks Rugby: “Stab me in the belly, not in the back.”
Lesson — Story — Application
DY: “If you learn and share it’s a good day.”