Hey, You're on Sports Talk with Cam

When I was in college I would answer my phone, "Hello this is WCAM, what do you want to talk about." 

My dream job would be General Manager of a professional Sports Team or the host of a radio sports call in show. (I feel a little like George Costanza when I say that). When I drive I love to listen to call in shows, I think a segment of mine would go something like this......

ME: Hello, you’re on sports talk with Cam, who am I speaking with?

CALLER: Hey, this is Philip from Oklahoma City, where do you think Kevin Durant will play next year?

ME: I hope he stays in OKC. If he goes to Golden State then his career is just Scottie Pippen. I would think KD is a Michael Jordan person and wants to build around himself. OKC is close and only a few shots from being in the final. I think they can find that piece.

Again, if he chooses to go to Golden State in hopes of winning a championship he better hope he wins, and if he does he will be known as Scottie Pippen, which means he can only win if he’s #2. Scottie needed MJ, Dwayne Wade needed Shaq and Lebron. He’d be the caddie, not the player.

ME: Hey, you’re on sports talk, who is calling?

CALLER: Hey, this is Tyler from Raleigh. Who is the better pitcher, Jake Arrieta or Clayton Kershaw.

ME: Well Jake is third behind Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner.

CALLER: You’re crazy, Arrieta is the most dominating pitcher in the game.

ME: Don’t ask the question if you don’t want the answer. Arrieta is the best at pitching naked, have you seen the pics from the ESPN Body Issue? But Kershaw’s stats are by far better and he is pitching for a worse team. And I just love Mad Bums, he is a BIG GAME pitcher.

ME: Let’s go to another caller?

CALLER: Hey this is Warren from Nashville, should Klinsmann be fired?

ME: Who is Klinsmann?

CALLER: He’s the coach of the World Cup Soccer Team?

ME: Oh, Soccer. I don’t think anybody really cares. I hate for any guy lose his job so I say keep him.

CALLER: Man, Klinsmann sucks and we can’t win any big game.

ME: Go find a communist station that cares, this is a sports talk show and we don’t discuss soccer.

ME: Hey you’re on Sports Talk with Cam, who is calling

CALLER: Hey, this is Karen from Dallas. How do you feel about the US Open and the way the penalty stroke played out against Dustin Johnson?

ME: First, was it just me or was the fact that the Open was being televised on Fox with new announcers, did it sound completely awkward? I don’t know.

First, the USGA completely screwed that up and they need to just fess up to their mistake and move on.

Second, I am glad DJ won but I think Fox was more excited that the Gretzky girl ran on to the green than they were that DJ won. I felt like the camera guy was focused on her and easing DJ out of the frame.

ME: Today’s show is being brought to you by McDonalds..Da Da Da Da Da, We’re Lovin’ It. Lines are jammed and we will get to you soon. Let’s take a commercial break. 

To Ryanne and Her/Our Notre Dame Friends/Family

The hardest part of this season of graduation is not the exams. It is obviously the anxiety of that day when you pile everything in your car and drive away toward the next life stage. 30 years after that day for me and I can remember it vividly. Just wait until next spring when all of your “still in college friends” head off to tropical spring break destinations and you have to go to work!

I hope you and your friends will take 120 seconds and read a few of my thoughts.

I recently read a devotion which made me think of you. It shared that the primary way the gospels present Jesus with his disciples is as people on a journey. Jesus is always moving quickly from place to place, with his poor, sometimes dazed and confused disciples stumbling along after Him. He calls disciples, not to sit down and rest with Him, not to build great stone buildings where they can settle down with Him; rather He calls disciples to move with Him.

Our commitment to each of you, as your parents, is that we are still here and will continue to help you along your way. You are beginning a new journey and as adults know, college was just one small beginning not the destination.

We pray that you are able to discern God’s promptings in your life. We hope that at age 22 you are more aware of your spiritual gifts than we were and you realize God’s blessings on you as you continue to grow in Christ, as you continue to live out your new life. We are confident that you will not simply survive, but you will triumph and have a life over flowing with joy.

We hope what makes you special and what gives us all hope is that when you hear Jesus say, “Follow Me” you know he means you and you dare to follow!

Same Old Same Old - Every Day

One of my favorite preachers is Mike Breaux, and he describes the “same old life” this way.

“You get up at the same old time, shut off the same old alarm clock, walk in the same old bathroom, look at the same old face in the same old mirror, get in the same old shower, dry off with the same old towel and put on the same old clothes.

Then you walk down to the same old kitchen, get out the same old bowl, pour the same old cereal and eat it with the same old spoon, drink the same old coffee, read the same old paper and kiss the same old wife. After that you get in the same old car, drive the same old way to the same old job, sit at the same old desk and laugh at the same old jokes the same old boss tells the same old way.

You clock out at the same old time, get back in the same old car, drive down the same old street, pull into the same old garage, hug the same old kids, walk back into the same old kitchen and sit down and eat that same old dinner.

Finally, you walk to the same old family room, sit in the same old recliner, watch that same old TV show, fall asleep in that same old chair, get up and go to the same old bed, ask that same old wife that same old question, get that same old answer, then roll over and set that same old alarm clock and get up the next morning and do the same old thing all over again.”

That story makes me laugh but also hits too close home. The “same old same old” mentality is driving me crazy, especially at the Y. We keep doing the same old programs the same old way expecting different results. Isn’t that the definition of insanity?

IBM once surveyed over 1500 CEOs. In the interviews, CEOs said that creativity was the leadership quality they valued most. Creativity offers new risks, new ideas, new ways of influencing and communicating. Creative leaders invite innovation and encourage others to move past outdated approaches and take balanced risks. They are open-minded in expanding their management and communication styles, particularly to engage with a new generation of employees, volunteers and members. 

The IBM study asks: 

• How will you develop the critical capabilities to enhance creativity among your leadership team?

• In what ways can you explore, reward and integrate diverse and unconventional thinking?

• What is your approach to challenge your current business model to get the most from currently untapped opportunities?

• How will you leverage new communication styles, technologies and tools, both to lead a new generation of talent and encourage breakthrough thinking?

After you read this, will you respond the same old way?

On Boarding for Staff

I think I found a new way to do the on boarding for new staff at the YMCA; I am going to give them a year of Netflix with the instructions to watch the entire series of The West Wing. My wife will say that my infatuation with the show is just a crazy desire to have everyone stand whenever I enter a room. There may be some truth to that because every time I enter a room I always say, “Stay seated” even though everyone is already seated and very few even acknowledge my presence.

It’s probably not a good idea to ask employees that already work long hours to use 150 plus hours of their free time to watch an old TV show. Maybe I could just give them a couple of episodes from each season to watch and then we could meet periodically and debrief over the lessons.

I’ve thought about just showing them special clips but I think the leadership lesson is understanding the characters. These characters exhibit a skill set of unbelievable work ethic, an impassioned belief in the mission of their work, and an unwavering loyalty to each other. The characters have wildly different personalities yet they blend this diversity of thought into debates and arguments that help bring about decisions that are timely and thoughtful. The debates show passion and when employees are passionate about their work, they are also productive.

While the work of the Y is not trying to change America, it is trying to change our community. Change is exhausting and the often thankless work demands that our staff teams be committed to the mission and to each other. I am not sure of the magic needed to create a team that trust each other, is honest with each other, and is accountable for incredibly high standards. That is exactly the kind of stuff that Patrick Lencioni, author and business guru, has been stating for years. I guess my idealistic hope is that in watching it modeled on a TV show, that somehow osmosis will create the same environment. Now how much is the monthly Netflix subscription? And it's leadership from The West Wing, not House of Cards.

5 Traits for Your Team From the West Wing

1.       Passionate about the Mission

2.       Open to creating relationships with their peers

3.       Strong work ethic

4.       Belief in team success over personal success

5.       Really good at their job