#010 Cubs Talk: Chicago Regrets, Part 1

Ryne Sandberg, Interim Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, made a dramatic return to Chicago last weekend where the Cubs took 2 of 3 from the Phillies at Wrigley.  Although both teams have been out of contention for months, the interest of Cub fans was at season-long high as they were able to get a first-hand look at the managing chops of the man Chicagoans had prayed would be Theo Epstein’s first hire three years ago.

Although most Cubs fans felt a little uncomfortable seeing their beloved Ryno in the red, white, and blue Phillies uniform, most of the small crowd in attendance left the stadium after Friday’s 6-5 Phillies come-from-behind victory with a sense of redemption and confirmation.  It was bad enough when the Cubs passed on him the first time after winning two minor-league (AAA) manager of the year awards, but now the Wrigley faithful have seen their far-from-forgotten hero get passed up for a second time only to be given his well-deserved opportunity with the enemy.

So, should Theo Epstein be regretting the decision he didn’t make?  If you have followed the youthful and underachieving Cubs these past three seasons, you should take some solace in the fact that Sandberg was NOT hired.  If anything, Cubs’ fans should be thankful to Epstein for retaining Mike Quade and then moving forward with Dale Sveum over Sandberg.  Epstein and Jed Hoyer have been clear since taking over the team that 2015 was their competitive goal.  They have done nothing organizationally to disprove that objective.  In fact, it is clear that they have purposely put an inferior product on the field these past three seasons for the hope of creating an extremely athletic and skilled minor league system…which they have successfully done in a short amount of time.

As a diehard Cubs fan, I am not disappointed with Sandberg not being hired 3 years ago.  I am saddened to see him in the Phillies uniform he started his career in some 30+ years ago, but I am confident that whoever the manager is next year (with this decreasingly younger and inexperienced Cubs roster) will be fighting to keep his job for the all-important 2015 season.  I am thankful that Epstein chose Sveum to play the role of sacrificial lamb over the ever popular and mighty Ryno.  I honestly believe Theo Epstein saw into the future and could not bring himself to be the guy that fired Ryne Sandberg and not worry about replacing slashed tires on his car for the rest of his career in the Windy City.  Unfortunately, if the Phillies are smart, the window to bring Sandberg back to Chicago may have already passed.

Now, should Theo Epstein and Dale Sveum get a pass for the Cubs results these past two years because of these challenging circumstances they have put on themselves?  I will tackle that gorilla aggressively in tomorrow’s post.

Matt Rogers

Twitter:  @madcoachdiary

Email:  coachrogers12@gmail.com

 

#009 Let's Take a Walk

“You never truly know someone until you've walked a mile in his [or her] shoes.”

 

I have read the above aphorism attributed to everyone from Jesus to Native Americans, so I apologize for not being sure who to give the proper credit.  The proverb has been quoted, misquoted, and changed thousands of times.  What I am sure of is that the lessons to be learned from experiencing those words are immeasurable.

 

I have had numerous bosses over the years and have coached a very eclectic group of people.  I have found that all of them have played a significant role in my growth as a coach, father, husband, and human.  Some, I have clicked with from "hello."  Others, I mixed with like vinegar and water from the get-go.  As I can look back now, my perspective on most of them has developed and grown in many ways.

 

I had a conversation with a young coach last evening who was struggling with her role as a lead assistant coach.  She was very thankful for the opportunity her head coach had given her, but she was having a hard time understanding the head coach's decisions and choices. 

 

This young coach knows deep down that after a couple of years as a head high school coach and now in her second year as a collegiate assistant, she is ready to have and run her own program.  In the meantime, though, she is having a hard time handling being in the middle of a head coach she doesn't always relate to and a group of girls that she probably would not have recruited for her own team.

 

I chose the proverb above for today's blog because I think it fit well with the conversation I had with this young coach.  She was taking so much of the responsibility of the team's emotions and personal conflicts on her shoulders, and it was beginning to make her doubt herself.  It was obvious to me that she wasn't allowing the burdens of others from becoming her own.  She is a very empathetic person, so she very much wants to help solve the problems of those she cares about, but you simply cannot fix everyone or make everyone happy in a team setting.  Compromise by all is essential.

 

As a former assistant coach who went through similar issues with a former supervisor, I asked her why she did this to herself.  She said because she doesn't always know what the head coach wants or is thinking.  So, instead of having these conversations with the head coach and asking specific questions, she often tries to read the mood or the moment and fill in the blanks herself.  This only leads to more confusion.

 

I asked her to take a step-back and try and "walk in the shoes" of the two groups of people she has sandwiched herself between:  the head coach and the players.

 

In regards to trying to get perspective with her head coach, I recommended that she begin thinking about the circumstances the coach is under.  Is it possible that head coach is distracted on a personal level?  We all go through break-ups, family health issues, trouble with policy and procedure, incapability with supervisors, or our own personal issues.  Before judging someone for what they may or may not be doing, we should think about what might be driving them to be who they are.  Once you have looked at your relationship with the head coach with humble shoes on, it may be time to ask for a one-on-one and make it clear to the head coach that you are confused and need more direction.  What's the worst that can come from being honest and asking for more information in a respectful way?  Only you can answer that question.

 

From her player's perspective, I told her to make the choice to start having fun each day by remembering that it is NOT her program.  The burden of the team's success or failure should never be on the assistant coach.  The decisions of the program are for the head coach to make and the assistants to follow and help make sure the players buy into those decisions.  If the head coach does not do a good job of explaining roles to the players, it is not the assistants job to fill in those blanks unless the head coach specifically gave her direction to do so.  When the players ask program-type questions like, "What is my role?", I always advice asking the question back at the player, "What do you think your role is?"  "Have you talked to the head coach about what you want your role to be and how to get there?"

 

Players often want to be given all the answers.  It comes from that "fear of failure" I discussed yesterday.  

 

If the coach tells me exactly what to do, how to think, and how to react, I cannot fail.

 

Well, doesn't that sound like a fun way to live and play sports?  It is up to us coaches to teach them to be independent thinkers, take chances and risks, and learn to accept failure as a part of their growth and education. 

 

Yes, you may get yelled at when you think for yourself, but you will learn from that mistake and devise a better plan when you are in that situation again.

 

That is why taking the time to meet with each player before every season begins is a great idea.  Talking about each other's goals and expectations is always a good idea and should be a part of every coach's pre-season routine.  From there, have the team take personality and compatibility tests or take team retreats to talk about how you want to communicate with each other.  From there, it is all about holding each other accountable.  Some head coaches are great at it, and some are pitiful with it.  My former players would probably say that I swayed between the two depending on the situation and time of season.  They would probably be right on.  I know that in the middle of the season I can come off as a compassionate teddy bear and a hard-ass dictator all in a matter of moments.  I simply try my best to prepare my players before we get to that point for what I know to be my strengths and weaknesses.

 

Whatever you are going through in your relationship in life, in sports, in business...it is important to think about what the people you are dealing with are going through.  That starts with getting to know them as best as they will let you.  Never stop trying.  Everyone wants compassion, respect, and empathy whether they say it or not.  It is up to each of us to take the time to walk in their shoes a while to better understand why they walk the way they do.

 

Have a great day!

Matt Rogers

Twitter:  @madcoachdiary

Email:  coachrogers12@gmail.com

#008 Fear of Failure

"You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them." Michael Jordan (via Billy Clark)

 

I have spoken to a couple basketball players (a high school senior and a recent college grad) in the past few days about tough decisions that were in front of them.  After listening to their issues and concerns, it quickly became obvious to me that both were dealing with the same phobia that I see and read about quite often:  a fear of failure.

 

The high school player had just signed a letter of intent to play NCAA Division I basketball on full scholarship next year.  She was overjoyed with the prospects of this opportunity, but she kept coming back to her worry about "messing up" and "getting in trouble."  She's a great kid, so partying and drinking were not the type of trouble she was referring to.  She just didn't want to make mistakes on the floor and have coaches yell at her and be disappointed with her.

 

The recent college grad, on the other hand, was dealing with life-altering decisions.  She was contemplating a career path that would force her to make a long-term commitment to something she wasn't completely sure she wanted or could complete.  Even though she consciously pursued this opportunity in the first place, she was now doubting if she had the resolve to follow through.

 

In both cases, each of their concerns and fears were logical.  Both had faced obstacles in the past that made them question if they wanted to face more daunting obstacles in their respective futures.  I know as a youngster and even as an adult, I entertain similar personal doubts (or demons if you may).  I have learned that I simply cannot be afraid of things I cannot control.  If we are always expecting the worst, we tend to spend our energies preparing only for the worst

 

Why is it so hard for us to simply expect that when we work hard and do things the right way that good things will come of them?  I really think that TV and movies and the internet have created a paradox in today's society.  These new medias show us all that is happening all over the world at any second.  When someone does something remarkable a mile away or 10,000 miles away, we learn of it in seconds and often see video of it almost as it is happening.  The problem is that these things rarely come with any context.  We rarely get the back story on the person who saves the baby from a burning house.  We simply know in that moment of that person's life, he or she found the courage to do something courageous.  We don't know if they were the biggest coward in the world up to that point or had always demonstrated this type of conviction and action.  Heck, we don't even know if they were the person who set the fire in the first place.  We only know that they did something remarkable.

 

So, when we see these things, we cannot help but ask ourselves: "Would I have done that?" "Could I have done that?" "Do I want to do something like that?"  In the end, we never really know that answer until that moment presents itself.  What we can do is start preparing to be the hero every day.  That doesn't mean everyone should get a police scanner and start listening for dangerous opportunities in which to intervene.  It does mean we can start becoming better people through our actions.

 

I could write an entire blog (if not a complete sociological case study) on what I see at Target each day.  You know what I am talking about.  I casually watch people choose to leave their shopping carts stuck up on a curb instead of walking it 20 feet to the space designed for cart returns.  I'll see people throw their empty Starbucks cup on the ground by the car after they just walked 10 feet passed a garbage can.  And, my all-time favorite is the well-groomed, athletic, and beautiful person who jumps out of their Cadillac Escalade and casually walks into the store after parking in a handicap or new mothers only parking space as if those signs don't apply to them.

 

To start learning to be more confident, we have to learn to have a reason to be more confident.  Opening a door for an elderly person or a mother or father carrying a small child may not seen heroic or courageous, but I guarantee you that the person receiving your generosity deems you to be quite unique and exceptional, and they don't even know your name.  As you are walking to Target and you see that empty cup on the ground, do you pick it up and walk it the 10 feet someone else should have?  What's keeping you from being the better person?

 

Learning to be a physical and commanding basketball player or choosing to make a life-altering decision doesn't happen overnight or in an instance.  It builds up over time by repetition of our actions and character.  I fear dribbling a basketball with a defender in my face today because I don't dribble the basketball 2 hours a day any more like I used to.  If I wasn't always trying to pick up trash as I walked by it on the street, I may worry other people would see me as a snob when I do something that they just casually chose not to do.  Instead, I do it often enough to feel confident that my daughter sees her father (and his actions) as a role model for how to take better care of our community and environment.

 

Whatever you choose to do today or tomorrow, just remember that you are choosing to prepare or not prepare for the best...the best of you.  When we all make the choice to be the best of ourselves, we take one baby step towards our potential.  Fear of failure is just another way of saying "I fear how good I can be."  Does that seem logical at all?

 

Have a great day!

 

 

#007 Coaching Families

One of the great challenges in coaching is taking a group of young people who may have a lot or very little in common and molding them into one committed, focused, and united entity.  You may have players who are highly skilled, highly motivated, determined, and you may have players just there to have fun or be a part of the team or, unfortunately, because someone is making them play.

In trying to build a group of individuals into a single unit, I have always used words with my team like "family" and "brother/sisterhood."  Most athletes quickly grasp to that moniker, and as the season progresses, you begin to see the same values and emotions most families possess:  generosity, support, standing up for each other, squabbling, jealousy, etc.  When you use "family" to help focus your team on an objective, you are then taking on the role of parent.

The hard part about being a surrogate parent to a group of young people is that they usually have their own parents/guardians, siblings, values, and problems.  I have had teams that didn't get along very well at all, but the individuals represented had such strong family values at home that the team started to grow as the season progressed because those "at-home" family values started to rub off and become the foundation of the "on-the-court" family's character.  Nevertheless, I have also had teams who were as thick and thieves and loved each other before the ball ever hit the floor.  I have seen the effect of what one or two individuals with weakened "at-home" family values can do to break apart that strong "on-the-court" family unit.

For any coach who thinks that they are only coaching the 10-15 young men or women they see in practice every day, they are turning a blind eye to what will probably become their biggest problem.  You are never truly just coaching a player.  You are always coaching his or her family as well.  Mom, Dad, Brother, and Sister may only be present at games in the stands, but they are always affecting your coaching or your ability to coach.

For example, you have had numerous and significant conversations with your 6th man (first off the bench), Teddy, and you and he have developed a strong role for him on the team that he has learned to accept and be very proud of.  He knows the impact he has in every game and is excited about that role because the team is winning with him in that role.  However, the person he normally subs in for, Billy, is on a bit of a cold stretch.  Granted, the team is still winning through this cold stretch, but shots just have not gone down for 3-4 games like they were previously.  Teddy, on the other hand, has played very well during this 3-4 game stretch and has even finished 3 of those games with the starters.

Teddy's parents are very proud of their son, and have high expectations for him...like most parents do.  Because of this, they begin asking Teddy at the dinner table after practices why Billy is still starting.  They see how well their son is performing in comparison and are reading in the local newspaper about their son's strong efforts.

As a coach, you don't have any idea these questions and conversations are going on.  So my question to you is "Do you still think you are only coaching Teddy?"

You see, the problem with coaches who only coach to the kid is that they leave the kid vulnerable to these types of situations.  Teddy came home that night happy and proud and excited about his team and his role on the team.  His parents, because they love him so much and want him to have everything he deserves, completely wiped that humble, excited, and team-first attitude from their child's focus by simply asking a question they viewed as a compliment to their son.

So what do we do?  We coach the family through the players.  I spoke earlier about the conversations you had with Teddy about being the 6th man.  You convinced him this was a great thing, and he has now seen the fruits of believing in you.  He's playing well, playing more, and the team is winning.  It is not enough to get the player excited and inspired.  You have to teach them how to inspire and coach their support systems.  You have to help them have answers to the questions they may get asked before they ever hear the question. 

You might be saying to yourself, "Coach, how can I anticipate such things?"  You must put yourself in the shoes of your players and their family members, and you have to imagine how they might be reacting to what they are seeing.  This is why D1 coaches get paid so much and have such big staffs.  At the D1 level, everything is under a microscope.  Does the NCAA turn a blind-eye to Texas A&M when information is leaked that Johnny Manziel (the Heisman winner) took money to sign a few autographs.  Nope, the NCAA expects Texas A&M to prepare all of their players for the possibility of breaking a policy or rule.  The NCAA expects that Texas A&M taught Johnny Manziel about how he is not allowed to make money off of his likeness or name until his amateur status is complete.  Even if Johnny knows this and still breaks the rule, Texas A&M and the coaching staff, will receive bigger punishments than Johnny will.

As high school or small college coaches, we have to anticipate in the same ways.  We have to always be educating our players and their support systems about the what if's, the why's, and the why not's.  Let's get back to our superstar 6th man, Teddy.  It may have been wise early on to say something like this to Teddy:

Teddy, you have done a great job of improving your game, and you will be an essential part of our team and our team's success this year.  However, our team is nothing without a strong bench.  The team really does not have any reliable scorers on the bench, and I am hoping you will accept my challenge to be that person for us.  I know starting is a big deal, but I think the team will have an improved chance to win a championship if we can count on your scoring off the bench.  I know Billy does not have the jumper you have, but he is longer and a more physical defender.  With 4 other starters who can score, I think our starting group needs a guy who can focus on defending and rebounding.  With you playing in the second unit, we can focus the offense on you and get you much more opportunities than you would have received with the starters.

Teddy, now understands that his coach 1) has a logical plan, 2) thinks very highly of him, 3) thinks very highly of Billy, but for different reasons.  Teddy can now explain to his parents what the plan is, why Billy is starting and will continue to start, and the reason the team may be winning so many games.  You may feel comfortable saying to Teddy:

People may ask why you are not starting.  You can tell them that you are playing the same minutes as the starters and often on the floor at the end of games.  Ask them if they would rather start and sit in the end and watch their team win or lose, or be on the floor in the end and help guarantee a win.

If possible, I always recommend the coach writing and sending "communication guidelines" to the players and parents before the first practice.  If possible, I would also recommend having a meeting for the parents at the beginning of the season to talk about team rules, expectations, and communication.

It takes a lot of work, but always try and be proactive staying a step-ahead of your potential problems.  When you put the team first, you are always leading with integrity and that will always be respected by those in and around your program.

 

Have a great day!

Matt Rogers

Twitter:  @madcoachdiary

Email:  coachrogers12@gmail.com

#006 Becoming Right For the Bus

Last week I wrote about finding the right people for your bus, so I thought this week would be a good time to talk about how to get on that bus...or for a lot of you young coaches out there...how to get that first interview.

I have often spoken to soon-to-be college graduates about this very topic, and I always make clear to them that the hardest part about coaching college basketball is getting the job in the first place.  For those of you who have aspirations (or know someone with aspirations) for becoming a NCAA Division I assistant coach, I attached the below article about that very challenge.  It is a great read that has been bouncing around the coaching fraternity most of the summer.
 

"Bounced Around"  http://t.co/JXy2hMcYTn

In the article, it states that there are less than 1000 D1 assistant jobs in the country, and my guess is that less than 20% come available every season.  I would also guess that 90% of that 20% are filled before the position is ever posted as vacant.  D1 Head Coaches always have a list of friends, former players, and associates ready at the first phone call if a position opens up.  When you have a 6-7 figure salary and responsibilities, you hire those you know and trust, or those who are known and trusted by those you know and trust.  Yes, it is a very tight circle.
 

I say this not to keep you from chasing your dreams, but to make the obstacles in front of your dreams a reality.  I wouldn't be much of a coach if I did not quote the late, great John Wooden before I get too deep into these writings:
 

“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
 

Coach Wooden had such a great ability of expressing his wisdom in a simple but universal way.  This quote is good for those dreamers out there because it should keep you focused on learning and understanding your own strengths and weaknesses.  If you are not good at following up and being persistent, Coach Wooden may have told you that chasing a D1 job may not be your best course of action.
 

Okay, so maybe your ties to the D1 coaching ranks are not great and your determination is not as strong as Coach McRoy (see article linked above).  Don't let that deter you from being a college basketball coach.  My first job out of college was as a Residence Life Hall Director at a small college in Iowa.  Two days into the job, I walked into the Head Men's Basketball Coach's office, told him who I was and asked if I could volunteer on his staff.  16 years later I am still thankful to Coach Shovlain for his generosity and kindness.  I have a coaching career because he said "yes."

 

I understand that everyone is not as lucky and those opportunities can be few and far between.  Because I understand the challenges of finding a coaching job, there are a number of things I recommend for getting an interview:

 

1.  Get out there and meet coaches.  Work camps.  Visit practices.  Ask Head and Assistant Coaches to go to lunch to chalk talk or talk about how they got into coaching.  You may get turned down here and there, but very rarely has a college coach ever told me no.  Most see their jobs as ambassadors to their University and the game itself and take mentoring and developing young coaches very seriously.  Don't forget they were once in your shoes.

2.  Write a dynamic personal cover letter that sets you a part from everyone else.  Talk about you and not who you think they want you to be.

3.  Write a clean, detailed, organized resume that markets you to the expectations of the specific job you are applying.  (Have an English major edit both for you!)

4.  Find at least 3 great references who have the ability and desire to write you a great letter of recommendation.

5.  Find someone who knows the AD/Head Coach and ask them to call on your behalf.  Feel free to have more than one person call on your behalf, but be careful not to hurt yourself by being overbearing with the person doing the hiring.  There's a fine line between standing out and being a pest.

 

Congrats!  You got the interview!  "Oh crap, I got the interview!"  I have seen the look on coaches' faces when they finally get what they are after but have no idea how to prepare for that interview.  Here's a few tips:

 

 1.  Be confident.  You should go into every interview with the idea that if you don't get the job that it wasn't meant to be.  Be okay with not getting the job before you walk into the room, but walk in knowing you deserve it.

2.  Know who you are and have a brief but significant response to these questions:

• What is your teaching philosophy?
• My answer is "Progressive but honest "
• Nike says "Just Do It"
• What is the best advice you have received?
• My answer is "Be generous"
• The Army says "Be all you can be"
• How would you motivate your team in a significant situation?
• My answer "Whatever we do from here on out, we do it together"
• Vince Lombardi said "It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up"

3.  Be humble (http://madcoachdiary.blogspot.com/2013/08/humility-is-not.html).  Talk about the student experience you want to create more than what you will do to create that experience.  Always be prepared with questions about how you will do it, but make them ask for the specifics.  The best interviews are the ones that become a conversation and not a series of questions and answers.  You want them to feel what it will be like to have you as their new colleague.

Other than that, stay hungry and stay humble...and always listen to Coach Wooden!

 

Have a great day!

Matt Rogers

Twitter:  @madcoachdiary

Email:  coachrogers12@gmail.com

#005 Movie Review: "The Butler"

I have always loved movies that force me out of my comfort zone and make me look at something from a perspective that is different from my own.  I am sure my natural attraction to different perspectives comes from my very homogenous childhood growing up in a small farming community in northern Illinois.  As someone who is now raising two kids in a large metropolitan area, I now feel very blessed to have had the childhood of innocence that I did, but it also left me very naïve to the world.  It very much felt like living in a bubble knowing there was a big brave world out there while having very little contact with it.

I guess that is why when I left, I never really looked back.  My thirst for knowledge, diversity, flavor, excitement, and maybe a little danger has kept me living in many different places and meeting fantastic people from all over the world.  My travels have opened my eyes in a way I could never have imagined as a young man.  The people and experiences have brought me great joy, but also great sadness.  I have a natural empathy for the world.  I have always been a sucker for the Sally Struthers-type commercials to help save a starving child tens of thousands of miles away.  I simply am happier when those around me are happy, but my spirits can drop in an instance just by turning on the TV and watching the evening news.

The Lee Daniels directed "The Butler" was a film that tugged at my heart and soul for two plus hours in this very way.  To be so ashamed of our country's racial history and so proud of what has been overcome all at the same time is a terrific way to be reminded of our country's wealth of human spirit.

Without giving any plot away, I will say that I sat there for 20 minutes after the movie ended with tears in my eyes thinking about the completely opposite journeys the two main characters took to end up at the same place.  It is a story of pride, redemption, justice, perseverance, and determination, but I left the theatre knowing that I just watched one of the greatest father-son stories ever told.

Forest Whitaker (the father in the story) has quietly become one of my favorite actors.  He has been brilliant for years in films like "The Last King of Scotland" (Oscar win) and "The Great Debaters" to name a couple, but this may be the movie that becomes the center-piece of his career.  I hope you feel the same way after you see it.  My young children are not ready for the violence and language, but I think by the time they each hit middle school, this will be a movie we will sit down and watch as a family.

I tweeted out after the movie that I think this is a movie every American should watch.  I believe that, and I think we all will be better for it.

 

Have a great day!

Matt Rogers

Twitter:  @madcoachdiary

Email:  coachrogers12@gmail.com

#004 First Who...Then What

Good to Great by Jim Collins is a book you will see me acknowledge and quote from time to time because it is one of the best books on leadership, efficiency, and management I have ever read.  Mr  Collins and his team of college-aged researchers set out some 15 years ago to find the answers to what made good companies turn into great companies.  Along the way, they found logical and practical answers to some of industries most glaring questions.  I won't go into all the details, but the chapter that always seems to resonate with me is "First Who...Then What."

The chapter discusses the idea of getting the "right people on the bus."  No matter what bus you are driving or where you are driving to, it is imperative to get the people who are the right fits for you to join you on the start of your journey.

The multiple times I have had the opportunity to chair a search committee or hire a new assistant, I have made it a point to re-read this specific chapter.  Each time I read it, I am amazed at how simple of an idea "the right people on the bus" is and should be to all.  However, I have learned that most managers care more about the "what" than they do the "who."  It is these managers who end up failing more times than not.

Have you ever worked with someone who hired someone based on their ability to be manipulated?  How about a manager who refused to hire someone they perceived to be  smarter than them for fear of being made to look bad?  I've witnessed numerous hires that were made out of convenience.  "We could do a national search for the best person, but that takes a lot of time and effort.  Let's just promote Betty or Jimmy to the position.  They can learn as they go."

To have a great company, staff, or marriage even, it should be your top priority to pick those who will challenge you, the status quo, and others in the organization.  Don't fear intelligence, strength of character, passion and compassion.  Embrace those qualities that will raise the bar across the board.

Although I have been blessed with wonderful assistants and colleagues over the years, the best decision I ever made was to propose to a woman who was smarter, more talented, more focused, more responsible, and much better looking than me.  In the end, whether it was my wife or those great people who have carried my career all these years, I have put myself around people who simply made me better and challenged me to want to be better.

Build that great team and then decide where to take the bus.  You may find that your new team will take that bus further than you ever imagined it could go.

 

Have a great day!

Matt Rogers

Twitter:  @madcoachdiary

Email:  coachrogers12@gmail.com