I was having lunch with my brother and father in law. During that time we discussed football. Imagine that? What else do guys do at lunch, right? The discussion really centered on the Denver Broncos, but expanded (and rightfully so) on how do you know an athlete is the right one? What makes him (or her for that matter) different? You see we were discussing how a scout knows an athlete is right. Think Ryan Leaf versus Tom Brady. Tom Brady was drafted in the sixth round and Ryan Leaf in the first. And yet, Tom Brady has won 2 NFL MVPs, 2 Super Bowl MVPs. And Ryan…well, I will not go any further. Ryan is a fine person. Our discussion is how one sees THAT CERTAIN SOMETHING. You see scouts are meant to see the realities of each position. What is their criterion? They are supposed to see how much someone bench presses, or their 40 time or how they throw the ball/catch the ball/defend against the ball, etc. That was the moment I went “aha”. I believe the degree of difference between one player or another is very small. If all are at their optimum level, there is very little difference. Skill is not the differentiator.
This is the kick (and the point for this chat), I believe the true differentiator is not skill, but will. It is how one decides to do, or believe or give that AMPLIFIES the talent. I am not an originator of this thought. My favorite author and one who I am always challenged by is John C. Maxwell. His book Talent is Not Enough was a stimulant to my thought and mindset. While I paraphrase, it is not the skill per se that catapults someone into greatness, it is their belief, their decisions and their choices in how to act and create their next step. It is how they take the given (their skill) and apply to all things, or maybe, more importantly, outside their “it” that matters most. So consider this…
I am a new manager. I am put up against another manager who has 3 years of experience. The skill is disproportionate. They (the 3-year manager) would easily be the best when measuring opening the store or making sure the inventory is right. But I wonder, what if the new manager had a much stronger will to succeed or much more of a “I want this” approach; does that make them more successful? This is the ultimate “skill versus will” conversation. Does a Tom Brady outperform because of his weight or height or just in a little area about how he looks at his team or the game (even outside the actual game itself)?
This makes me think about managers. It makes me think that there is little difference between running the store or not, but rather the belief in some ways in doing what they do. We could easily measure the ability to run a store and even to ensure you have a team. But the bigger or more important element is the decision making process behind the skill. Is this the will thing John C. Maxwell is referring to? I can have the all the skill in the world, but when compared to another with the equal or proportionate skill, am I better, faster or quicker because I amplify the skill by doing the right thing versus not? I believe skill and will win every time when placed against skill only. Imagine the store manager who exhibits every possible skill and in an impressive way, particularly when measured by others, but not the heart to win. Now imagine the manager with skill, even just marginal skill, and the goal to win every time regardless of how hard it may be. Who wins? Who wins more often?
So where do you go from here? Ignore skill? No, no, if that is what you think, you have missed the point. You have to know your game, your position. You have to know how to run a store, to open and close it. Do you give a darn? When I started in training, I was OK. I knew a couple of nouns and verbs and was able to put them into some type of sentence in front of a lot of people. I then got some skill in a previous organization. I had the initial talent and then added to it. I do not believe I became good at my craft until I believed I could do what I did every day. The skill in many ways became so incredibly secondary. It was the heartfelt belief, even in times of turmoil, doubt, stress and rejection that truly elevated me. It amplified my function. My job. Someone once said something to effect, when your job ceases being your job and becomes what you love and then you would do it for free. OK, I am not doing what I do for free. I am in so many ways simply blessed that I am able to do it. I have some skill, and it is the will that propels me.
I usually have a couple of things or questions to consider as a means to move with this information. Not today. Just one thing. One small thing…look in the mirror and ask if you belief in who you are. If asked by another, how would answer this question? Even in the worst of times and uncertainty we face individually or collectively, do you believe in who you are and what you are capable of? Well maybe today, if you doubt, let me believe in you.
Your will always propels the skill – remember that.