What I Learned Watching Championship Football, Patience is Over Rated
“Patience is over rated,” is a direct quote by Dan Marino, Hall of Fame quarterback of the Miami Dolphins and sports commentator. It was during the CBS broadcast of the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens on Sunday January 20, 2013, for the American Football Conference Championship game. It was said to the Patriot’s quarterback, Tom Brady, who has won three Super Bowls. The Patriots were heavily favored to win the game. The Ravens won, 28 to 13.
Tom Brady is no slouch. Much like Marino, he holds many NFL records as a quarterback. He may be some day known as the best quarterback to ever play the game. As I watched the game I noticed that Tom was anything but patient. To say it another way he was impatient. Much that happened during the game went the Raven’s way. Yet during Marino’s interview with Brady it was pointed out that this team had the most talent of any other previous team the Patriot’s had fielded. So what happened?
Some would agree that I am somewhat of a football fan. My team is the Buffalo Bills. They play in the same football conference as the Patriots. Since the Bills played well in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s they have been less than competitive in the last two decades. In 2001 the Patriots started on their quest of championships and Super Bowl wins. I have watched Tom Brady a lot.
Early in his career as a rookie with the Patriots, he was much more patient. I remember it being said that his early success was due to him taking what the other team would give him. I maintain that because he was new to the game he was more patient. I believe now that he has won championships, and is considered one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, he now expects success to come to him much more quickly. He takes on more responsibility for success and failure. He also takes more risks which increases his rate of failure in the big games.
The way it applies to our careers and business development is that patience is required to build relationships. When we are patient we will develop deeper feelings for our prospect and get the result we want sooner when building those relationships deeper. When building relationships with our prospects and referral partners there is a greater likelihood for success. This translates into more first time business and allows for the ability to sell again in the future. When we apply patience to those relationships and give our prospects/referral partners what they want (or what they will give us) we are creating a championship relationship.
This has become especially apparent to me recently as I have taken more time to be more patient. Some years ago, as a young engineer, I was told that after 20 years of work experience I would be stoic in my view of the world. Even though I remember the time and place of this “telling” I have found myself wandering down the path of impatience. Even as I have told myself to stay open minded, what my mentor predicted has made its way into my life.
So today I commit to being more patient. To listen longer and take more deep breathes. Really hear what my prospects and referral partners are saying. Be less of an active listener, ready to give feedback, and more of an attentive listener, pausing to reflect on what I hear. As an active listener, ready to give feedback I commit to taking a deeper breath, reconsider what I just heard, take a second breath to consider the thoughts deeper meaning. Then and only then will I respond.
Is anyone reading this ready to make the same commitment?
Gerry Rose runs INTEGRITY Networking Solutions in Oceanside, CA. He works with people in business who want to attract the right prospects and generate more referrals. More than 10,000 businesses have been presented the INTEGRITY Networking Solutions system in San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange Counties.
Gerry’s stimulating presentation Unlimited Prospects, Unlimited Referrals is ideally suited for small business owners, home-based businesses, and independent professionals who want clearer direction and want to attract more prospects, develop dynamic systems, and strengthen their companies’ accountability. Gerry does one on one consulting, conducts a range of keynote speeches from thirty minutes to full-day education workshops. His book series, Unlimited Prospects, Unlimited Referrals, are available on the website, www.integritysd.com.
Gerry has more than 20 years’ experience directing business owners how to grow their businesses. He is a networking dynamo. Those who know him will assure you that he does a great job of bringing people together—which is why he started INTEGRITY.
Involved with networking organizations since 1984, Gerry is a Distinguished Toastmaster, a member of Toastmaster International, and has chaired numerous chambers of commerce and non-profit organizations.
Are you truly committed to attracting the right prospects and generate more referrals? If so then contact INTEGRITY Networking Solutions for availability and information, call (888) 584-7073. You can contact Gerry by mail at 2103 Wedgewood Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056. Direct dial (760) 439-4623; e-mail to gerry@integritysd.com. For more information, go to www.integritysd.com
