Recently, I had both the privilege and honor to spend time with Rollie Massimino, the legendary basketball coach. He is the director of basketball operations at Northwood University in West Palm Beach, Fla. He is renowned as having one of the best coaching minds in America. His impressive record has earned him the title of the No. 5 coach in America with the most wins! As a leader, Coach Massimino lives the family style of motivating his players. He is a walking and talking bundle of enthusiasm and concern for others.
Coach Massimino and I share the fact that both our fathers came to America from Sicily. His father landed in Newark, N.J., and my father in Philadelphia, of course, via Ellis Island. Our families taught us to value life and others.
What a wonderful way to spend a Monday afternoon sitting next to “Coach” and watching his seniors work out with a few potential recruits. Coach Massimino treats all his staff and players as family. When I say family, I mean family. He puts his arm around them, hugs them and smiles a lot! This remarkable man is a nurturer, and he guides young men on the road to Manhood.
Rollie Massimino never stops teaching. His players are polite, dress as professionals and graduate. Education is Coach Massimino’s passion. Twenty-eight of his former players and assistants have gone on to be head coaches. He is a captain of men and celebrates the success of others! At dinner that night, I asked Coach how he has molded and developed winning teams over the past 50 years or so. His response took me by surprise. He said, “John, one word, ‘sacrifice.’” He continued by sharing that winning comes as much from the heart as the ability to shoot, move and rebound. He has the desire and fire to give to a cause greater than yourself.
The coach and his staff spend considerable time recruiting the best student athletes in the United States and, in fact, globally. Once they agree to attend the uiversity, the challenge is to take these individual “All Stars” and shape them into a team that sacrifices for the good of the team, which is not an easy task. This is when the concept of sacrifice comes into play. Each individual must be willing to give his energy, time, ability and commitment for the good of the whole.
Coach Massimino cares deeply about his players, and it shows. He inspires loyalty, mutual respect, and pours all that he has for the good of each player. His unconditional faith in his team makes a huge impact. There are many parallels between the sports world and the business world. In our industry, we strive to hire the best and the brightest and then assist them in understanding the corporate goals, objectives and culture. The question is: Do we guide them in the importance of playing well with others? That indeed, business is a team sport!
Sacrifice is not a negative word. It depends on our point of view and perspective. It is defined as “to choose not to do or have something useful or important, in order to have something that is more important.” Success depends on ability, determination, staying power and a willingness to pay the price of success – sacrifice. It is dreaming and making our dreams come true. Professional growth is indeed a choice. Leaders are a guidepost directing employees toward their desired goals. They display empathy and understanding.
Ponder the employee who loves what they do. In this case, sacrifice does not feel like a sacrifice because they have the passion for what they do coupled with their inner drive, juice and fuel that take them to the
next level. The challenge is to create that passion and flame it. Athletes work out each day in order to get into the best shape possible. It is incumbent for leaders to push – encourage employees to work out each day in order to reach their potential. Remember, it would not be a sacrifice if it did not hurt just a little. The mind is a muscle, and we need to use it.
“When people get caught up with that which is right and they are willing to sacrifice for it, there is no stopping point short of victory.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
In my career, I have never met someone who does not want more! The question is: Are they willing to sacrifice for more? In essence, the difference between good and great is individual sacrifice. Achievement comes at a cost. The question to contemplate is: Are we willing to get in shape in order to win the championship?
