Forge Your Path

FRIDAY FUEL - JANUARY 27
4TH AND 8

On Saturday night, the Giants got beat every which way a football team can get beat.

That said – there is one moment of the game that upon further reflection, brought me a silver lining.

On the Giants' first drive, they were in field goal range at the Philadelphia 35 yard line with a crucial 3rd down and 3 ahead.

When the pocket began to collapse, QB Daniel Jones did what he did all season: found a seam to run for it. However, he tripped over his own lineman, resulting in a five-yard loss. Now the Giants faced a 4th and 8.

Coach Brian Daboll stunned Giant fans nationwide by what he did next: he went for it. It’s one thing to go for it on a 4th and 1, but 4th and 8 is an entirely different animal. Jones dropped back, and was promptly sacked. Philadelphia promptly went down the field to score again, making it 14-0 right out of the gate.

I was watching the game with my friend Marc who, like me, is lifetime Giant fan. We couldn’t believe it. We spent minutes belaboring the decision. Sunday morning, as I listened to the radio, the chorus of second-guessers was unified in berating Coach Daboll for going for it on 4th and 8.

Then a contrary opinion was so eloquent that I almost stopped my car: if the Giants had made it, would we be praising him that he made the RIGHT decision?

Every day, as leaders, we are faced with tough decisions. Sometimes those decisions work out in your favor, and sometimes they don’t. But the trap of focusing solely on “results-based thinking” is using the end outcome is the only barometer of the value of your decision.

Here’s a concrete example. Since I hadn’t seen my buddy for nearly a year and it was a late game, I planned to stay over at his place. But after the terrible start, I kicked around the idea of driving home early. After having a few drinks, I knew that wouldn’t be a good decision. Using the results-based lens – if I HAD decided to do that - and made it home safely - would that have made it the RIGHT choice? Of course not. Regardless of the outcome, it would have been a POOR decision to drive.

On Sunday, I read up on Coach Daboll’s post-game analysis, and I loved what I saw. He said that the Giants got outplayed, and there are a lot of ways they can get better – including his own coaching performance. The 4th and 8? Daboll stood by his choice, stating that they had practiced a lot of 4th down scenarios in practice successfully all week; they just didn’t execute on this play. He stood by his choice as the right one, despite the outcome.

For all the leaders out there, remember that the price of stepping in the arena is that sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. Building confidence in your ability to make sound decisions – and to accept the outcomes – is a standard requirement of leadership. While the play – and game – didn’t turn out the way I wanted – I’m now even happier to have Coach Daboll at the helm of my team!

FRIDAY FUEL - NOVEMBER 11
THE ESSENCE OF COMMITMENT

As much as I’ve tried to power through the past few weeks, I must admit: my tank is close to empty.

It feels as though the past two months since school started has been a carousel of getting the kids to school, work, shuttling to girls’ soccer, errands, and rinse and repeat.

As I play the smallest violin in the world for the first-world challenges of my cushy suburban life, in anticipation of Veteran’s Day, I did some reading that reminded of what showing up really looks like.

On November 11, 1921, an unknown American soldier was brought back from France and interred in a three-level marble tomb Arlington Cemetery. Five years later, soldiers were first assigned to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, discouraging visitors from climbing or stepping on the tomb. After a re-design in 1931, later that decade, in 1937, guards began providing a 24/7 presence standing watch, and that presence has continued through this day.

Consider that for a moment: not just 85 consecutive years, but 1,020 months, 30,600 days, 734,400 hours, and 44,064,000 consecutive minutes providing guard to this sacred monument.

As impressive as that streak of showing up is, that’s the tip of the iceberg. Since 1948, the guards for the Tomb are elite volunteers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment. Fewer than 20% pass the rigorous acceptance process including interviews, multiple tests, and several phases of training before earning a Tomb Guard Identification Badge.

While guarding the Tomb – known as “Walking the Mat” – soldiers follow an impeccable routine that involves 21 step, 21 second intervals as well as sharp movements where no margin for error is tolerated. Depending on the time of year and time of day, the Changing of the Guard follows a meticulous process every half hour, hour, or two hours. In rain, sleet, or snow, 365 days a year, the Tomb is not just guarded – but guarded with perfect precision. Absolute silence is required at the Tomb, as the site commands the utmost respect for all the missing and unknown service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

It is likely that you will never know the men and women who guard the Tomb; it is also likely that you will never know the overwhelming majority of those who serve us here and abroad. They don’t get on television for catching touchdowns on Sundays or hitting home runs in primetime. They serve because they believe in something meaningful, and they serve without individual recognition.

That’s commitment.

So as we fall victim to the self-engrossed burdens of our own lives – myself included - please take a moment this Friday, November 11th to remember the men and women who are making sacrifices to serve and protect our country today – and acknowledge what true commitment looks like.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4utXb3auOew