Your Champions Brew for Friday, February 11, 2022

The Champion’s Brew is a weekly assembly of material I am reading, listening to, watching, or thinking about that is designed to equip and call you to uncommon leadership.  I often add my own little spin based on my takeaways and would love your input as well.  Any of the points especially impact you?  Drop me a note at [email protected], or comment on the blog to keep the conversation going!  I believe you will discover that the format is not only useful, but also that you can consume it within the time it takes you to enjoy your daily ‘brew’!  Become a member of the Champions Brew Nation by subscribing here!!

Here is your weekly drink of what I have been reading, listening to or watching to equip  me to:

• Build My Faith, Love Always and Work Hard:

Recently, Dave Campbell shared a podcast with our mastermind group that was recorded several months ago with host Ed Mylett and Dabo Swinney, the Head football coach at Clemson University.  The podcast was over an hour long, but the investment of time was well worth it.  You can read my takeaways below, or if you want to listen to the entire podcast, click here for the full episode. 

1. On being great at whatever you do – Dabo had a great quote: “The grass is green where you water it.” – I loved that quote.  He talked about whatever it is you are doing, whether you think you are in the area of your calling or not, just be GREAT at it. 
2. On being prepared – “You gotta be prepared for your opportunity.” – He shared the story of how he was hired mid-season with Clemson and how he already had his coaching playbook ready to go!
3. On communication – Communication leads to trust, which leads to respect
4. On having a shared vision – In your organization, business, family… do you have your vision articulated (in writing is best!)?  And, if so, does everyone “from the greeter at the front door to the top” understand that vision.  Dabo communicated that his vision for Clemson football was to:
   • Graduate players
   • Equip them for life
   • Give them a good experience
   • Win a championship
5. On HOW they would implement the vision with several key points:
   • “We will do the common things in life in an uncommon way”
     • We will clean the bus
     • We will clean the locker room
     • We will do the little things well that would command attention
   • We will have an attitude of belief
   • We will quit hoping and start believing – He ended up pretty successful.  From 0 ACC championships before he was the head coach to the 2nd winningest college program over the last 10 years.
6. On Passion – “Love what you do and the people you do it with”
7. On JOY – The acronym was simple… Jesus, Others, Yourself… in that order
8. On choices – Live your life in a way where people say, “he’s different” (in a good way!).  One of his favorite Bible verses is Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
9. On being committed – He said to “be YOUR best, not THE best.”  If you are committed to doing YOUR best, you may get the opportunity to be THE best!
10. On focusing on the future – Dabo’s final comments were awesome.  He said to “make sure your dreams are always greater than your memories”.  I love this.  He said that they have a windshield with a rearview mirror in their facility that creates a great metaphor.  They have been successful, and it would be very easy to rest on those laurels, BUT, the rearview mirror is a LOT smaller than the windshield for a reason.  You will get a stiff neck if you spend too much time looking in the rearview mirror.  Always make sure your DREAMS (the windshield… the articulated future state) are bigger than your MEMORIES (the rearview mirror).    I simply thought this was a phenomenal challenge for all of us. 

• Quote: “When you do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.”  – George Washington Carver

What are you going to do?

Call to Action:  Which one of these points impacts you the most?  What can you to THIS WEEK to command the attention of the world?!

Let’s continue the conversation.  Email me at [email protected] or comment on the blog.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Champions Brew. If you enjoyed it, I would appreciate it if you would share it with a friend who might enjoy it as well and ask them to subscribe! I will make sure they automatically get this email every week.

Until next time, go and Grow Champions!