Talent

Traveling as much as our team does, we often find ourselves in hotel rooms working with the television running the background in the form of white noise. Sometimes it’s a running reel of SportsCenter, other times one of the myriad of detective shows (NCIS, Law and Order, etc.). This past week I got sucked into The Last Dance, which I’ve seen multiple times before. On some occasions, my background choices are the talent shows or Ninja Warrior type events, that I can check in and out of as needed.

I can be a pretty emotional guy. So when I watch great performances happen, be they a professional athlete, an amateur singer, a gal breaking a world record hoola-hooping for 75 minutes around her backside (true story), it’s all open for my personal and emotional interpretation. To be honest, it’s not that uncommon for me to rise in my hotel room (along with those in the live audience on the TV) to give a standing ovation to an act on America’s Got Talent. I did so twice tonight as I write this in my Minneapolis room.

The reason this is relevant to our industry, or leadership in general, is this……

These people put themselves out there to be judged by the world. They have the guts to be objectified by everyone. Social media trolls, mainstream media members, the judges on those types of shows. They are saying, “See what I can do and tear me down if you must.”

To borrow from my favorite wrestler of yesteryear, these people are the ultimate warriors.

How many of us are willing to stick our necks out like that, to lead, to take a chance, to ultimately win or lose. To be judged.

Not many.

I’m inspired by these people that are willing to take a chance on themselves. And most come with a backstory on why they are doing so, that has something to do with others that are not on the stage or in that arena that day. Their motivations are as inspiring as their actions.

Be that Ultimate Warrior. Lead the pack when nobody else will. Put yourself out there. Be your most awesome self and let them judge all they want.