A Child With Brain Cancer
In March of this year, Noah Reeb was a 10-year-old boy fighting brain cancer. After going through two surgeries in a three-week span, Noah and his parents, James and Jacque, were facing desperate times. Hope was in short supply. A miracle was needed.
But their fortunes were about to change. Inspiration and encouragement was on the way from a very surprising place.
A Legendary Quarterback
Tom Brady, the G.O.A.T. himself and quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, unexpectedly sent Reeb a video message encouraging him to keep fighting. Brady’s video provided the fuel Noah needed to not give up. Noah’s father James told ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, “It (the video) changed his whole approach to cancer.”
An Unforgettable Moment
As Noah’s condition improved, James told his son that when he got better they were going to see Tom play in-person. That day arrived on Sunday, October 24 when the Buccaneers hosted the Chicago Bears at Raymond James Stadium. Noah and his family had seats on the third row.
In an effort to get Tom’s attention, Noah brought a sign which read “Tom Brady Helped Me Beat Brain Cancer” which is shown below.
The now-cancer free Noah and his hero Brady were then able to connect at the game’s conclusion. Just as Brady surprised Noah with a video message in March, Noah surprised Brady with an in-person visit in October. Their heartwarming story is shown in the Inside The NFL feature shown at this post’s conclusion.
Caring Is Great Leadership
Tom was asked about this moment on his Let’s Go podcast. His answer reveals the most long-lasting and impactful thing a leader can do.
He said, “Caring is what’s cool. Caring is what’s great leadership. Caring is what the right thing to do is and when you stop caring about people, it becomes very dysfunctional. We’ve got to care more about the people who aren’t cared for. We’ve got to care about the people who don’t have the opportunities and going through the tough times.”
There are many things leaders prioritize which are temporal – monthly earnings, seasonal results, wins and losses, positions and titles, income, etc…
But leaders should always remember the words of Maya Angelou, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Noah Reeb and his parents, James and Jacque, would agree.
The most long-lasting and impactful thing you can do as a leader is care for your family, care for your team, care for your customers, care for your community, and care for those without hope.
When you do so, people will never forget that you made them feel cared for. Your impact on their life will be long-lasting. It is true what Tom said, caring is cool. Caring is great leadership.
https://youtu.be/ctNr9rD6_U4
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