Good morning! Here is a fact about me: I do not like cold weather.
BUT it is my belief that one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. So in spite of the temperature, let’s give it a shot. Here’s the quote::
“In all the time that people have known me, has anyone ever heard me talk about the importance of rushing records or finishing with the most touchdowns? So if that’s never been important to me, then why would that be a motivation to keep playing?”
— Barry Sanders
Now this particular quote requires at least a little bit of context. Barry Sanders was an all-time great college and NFL running back. He was incredibly fun to watch, and did things like this for the duration of his 10-year NFL career:
When he retired, it was confusing to a lot of people, because he was still a very effective player, and he was on pace to easily eclipse the all-time NFL rushing yards record, one of the more revered records in the sport. So there were many who were surprised, and who asked him questions about whether or not he might come back, and if he would go to another team to try to achieve the record.
The above quote was his response. So confident. So self-assured. So comfortable with who he is. I admire that. Because it is very easy, especially today when anyone can voice their opinion about anything to anyone else immediately, to consider opinions and outside factors when you make a decision. How will this look? Do people expect this of me? Will I be thought less of if I do not accomplish this?
This had to be a very complicated decision. Sanders was a star, and an all-time great, and lived football (and lived it very well) since probably grade school. The rushing record holder at the time (the great “Sweetness“) was well-known and admired, in no small part for his holding of the record. And Sanders’s chief competition for the record, Emmitt Smith, was very likely to get a big boost to his legacy if he hit the record (which he ultimately did).
But there were arguments against hanging around just to try for the record too. Sanders played for some pretty sub-par Detroit Lions teams. There was obviously no guarantee of breaking the record, and football players get hurt all the time. Plus, it is certainly a huge grind to play professional football, takes away time from other aspects of one’s life, and the wear and tear football takes on the body is well documented.
There are two things I admire about this quote.
First, he is being so true to himself here. He acknowledges the talk – that people are saying he should hang around to get the record. But then he points out – that was never why he played. Why would he suddenly change his world-view now, when making such an intensely personal decision? The self-awareness and steadiness, the belief in who he is, are striking.
Second, he is demonstrating good decision-making (by the way – this will be the topic of an upcoming FLS blog post). He has identified all the different factors, and the pros and cons to each, and then ranked them in terms of importance to his ultimate decision. You can see all that from this one tiny quote. It’s excellent. It is something I try to assist clients in doing when faced with an important decision. And it is something I aspire to as well.
So this week I will try to be like Barry Sanders. While it is highly unlikely that I will score any touchdowns, win the Heisman Trophy, or even be interviewed about one of my decisions, it is a certainty that I will have some difficult choices to make. When I do so, I will try to be true to myself – base my decision on what is and always has been important to me. And I will try to consider the right factors, weigh the appropriate information, and made a good decision – based on fact. How will you address the tough calls that confront you?
Have a great week everybody.