Yesterday we celebrated practice 177 with OSU grapplers, practice 50 with OSU Head Coaches, practice 95 with OSU Lacrosse, and practice 88 with OSU Women’s soccer. All were freakin’ magic, at least to me.
The HC practice was focused on integrating “tough and tender” into your leadership style. Women’s soccer focused on why the better team lost on Sunday. Damn. Lacrosse focused on why we teach ideas not individuals. What? The day finished with the grapplers. We focused on shaming your best. Freakin’ magic when we understand the history of Spartan’s and SEAL’s. We learned, or were given the gift of the opportunity to, by Grappy, Nick, and The Wizard. I was tired at the end of this day and it was a good tired. So, friend, what will I remember from this day of opus?
Not much, truth be told.
I’m a broken record, you know. Everyday I do mostly the same stuff. Love it, but it’s mostly rinse and repeat at this point. I love the work and each of the day’s I’m privileged to build. So, it all blurs together into one big, flow moment. Today was different. Today, Grappy interrupted our practice with his seven leaders to remind them why we’re here. Today, he told the team more specifically why I am here. He began, as he almost always does, by telling them to look beyond how I look. In fact, he shared, if a fight broke out amongst us, I would be the first casualty. He’s not wrong. Grappy continued with how he vetted me before hiring me – He wanted to know if I was tough enough to be in front of his team. So, he came to my workouts and bike rides. He observed me in action with other clients. He knew I knew my stuff but, in his mind, that is NOT enough. He doesn’t give anybody access to his team he doesn’t believe walks the walk, as he said. He’s building a tough team and wants tough dudes teaching ‘em. He told them I’m tougher than I look.
Here’s truth. I am not tough. I am not an athlete. I am not a motivational speaker. I am not a genius at anything. I am, however, really solid at one thing. I am a truth teller. I am paid to tell truth to those who are accustomed to being lied to (leaders).
You, friend, do not need to be tougher. You need to be truer. Day 173. Damn. Read it. Live it. Thanks, Grappy, for the trust. Truth.
Live hard. Love harder. John 8:32. Truer…
BUILT TO LEAD 