An Unusual Request
In early 1994, former San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh received a phone call from an old friend and former player, but not just any player. Quarterback Joe Montana was reaching out with a surprising request.
Montana was asking Coach Walsh to review his mechanics and footwork. Montana simply felt they were not as precise as they should be. Something felt off.
What was surprising about this request was Montana’s professional status. You see, by this time Montana was a 15-year veteran, two-time National Football League Most Valuable Player, four-time Super Bowl champion, and his place in the Hall of Fame was already secure. Many were already viewing him as the greatest quarterback of all-time.
And yet, he was focused on among other things….. footwork.
Fundamentals
Why would the greatest quarterback to ever play the game at that point spend so much time on fundamentals?
Because Montana knew the reason he was the greatest quarterback of all-time at that point was he spent so much time on his fundamentals.
Joe Montana and all of the greatest leaders know their success is directly tied to their mastery of fundamentals. Making a big deal of little things is often the difference between success and failure. The greatest leaders know how you do anything is how you do everything. And they never get bored working on them.
The Grind
The reason so many leaders bypass the fundamentals in their training and daily work is they simply hate the grind. The grind is the day-in, day-out unattractive work that receives no applause or fanfare. It is the lonely work done in secret. It’s boring. It’s hard to see the results. However, it is grinding through the lonely, boring work which ultimately leads to public applause.
The Challenge
Whatever work you are involved in, whether it be in ministry, business, athletics, or non-profit, there are elements of your job which you do not enjoy. It’s boring. There’s no applause. However, it is the mastery of these little things which will allow you to reach your full potential as a leader.
So I have a challenge for you…
Are you ready to be like Joe Montana and other great leaders and embrace the grind and press through these challenges?
The greatest leaders have and it is what has made them successful.
This story and much of the content was inspired by this article from The33rdTeam.com.
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