Fly Like An E.A.G.L.E.

Last week, I was fortunate enough to be seated at the President’s table of the Burlington County Regional Chamber of Commerce luncheon along with our speaker, Ron Jaworski. 

For those of you not from the Philadelphia area, you probably know Ron from Monday Night Football or ESPN or his many philanthropic contributions.  Having grown up here, I knew him as the Quarterback that took the Philadelphia Eagles to their first Super Bowl in 1980.

He is also the President of the Philadelphia Soul Arena Football team.  I sat 3 rows behind him for five seasons as he led that team to a championship in 2008.  He was immersed in the games, talking to the players, coaches, and refs.  Yet whenever a fan approached, no matter if they were 5 years old or 50, he stopped whatever he was doing and signed an autograph, smiled for a picture, and shook hands.  He’s a class act.  

He spoke about the importance of coaches.  He related it to business and what it takes to win and be the best.  He told us a story about Coach Dick Vermeil addressing the team at training camp in 1980.  The coach explained how the 125 hopefuls could make the team’s roster of 53 players that season.  He used the team name as an acronym, and broke it down for them in no uncertain terms.

“E” = Enthusiasm.  If you aren’t enthusiastic about what you’re doing, you won’t make it.  Who wants to work with someone who lacks passion?  You should love what you are doing, or go somewhere else.

“A” = Aggressive.  It takes tenacity to win.  If you don’t want it badly enough, it will show, and you won’t make the cut.  People want to work with people who go for it and can count on their team to back them up.

“G” = Gentlemen.  No matter where you are today, you represent where you came from, and all the people who helped get you there.  Don’t let them down by doing something stupid.  It takes character to create a winning culture.

“L” = Leadership.  A coach can motivate you.  We all need a half-time speech every now and again but at some point it has to come from within you, your gut, your heart, and your mind.  You have to believe in yourself.  Every single one of us has to be a leader for the team to succeed.

 “E” = Enduring.  We all get knocked down, it’s part of the game, but you have to get back up.  It takes grit to win.  It takes heart to be the best, and attitude to be a champion.

Ron’s enthusiasm is contagious.  He reminds us that we determine our success in our hearts and minds with our attitude and resolve.  He began and ended his talk with, “I had a great coach.”

David Nast has over two decades of experience in Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, Corporate Training, Career Coaching, Executive Search and Human Resources.

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