I recently read a story about a lesson one of the LA Lakers team managers learned from Pat Riley, the LA Lakers coach at the time.
The team had just landed in Washington DC at 01:30AM. That evening they had a game against the Washington Bullets (now known as the Wizards). The players were to check into their hotel rooms, get rest and be ready for the bus to take them to their shoot around practice at 09:30AM.
As they were leaving the airport, the team manager reminded Pat that he had organized the shoot around practice to take place at the Capital Centre, the home arena of the Bullets. The problem was that Pat Riley did not want to have practice in the opponents home arena, so he asked the team manager to find another place.
The team manager went on to say that he cannot do that. It is 01:30 in the morning and all the logistics would have to be reorganized. Pat Riley went on to say, “But did you try.” (Pat Riley used this phrase with his players when they said “but I can’t.” This was part of his coaching philosophy.)
The story ends with the LA Lakers having their shoot around practice at the basketball facilities of Georgetown University. The team manager tried, and found a way.
This reminds me of Yoda famously telling Luke Skywalker, “Do. Or do not. There is no try,” meaning you either fully commit and do something, or you don’t, as “trying” is just an excuse for potential failure and a lack of full dedication, implying that belief and action are key to succeeding with the Force.
Three key points here for me
- At times, we all need to get rid of the phrases ‘cant’ and ‘wont’ from our lexicon.
- Whether it is ‘to try’ or ‘to do’, just take the first step. As with a child learning to walk, the first, second, third … steps will be hard and not look good, but focus on where you will be and what you will have learnt in 3 months time.
- Leaders need to create the culture of allowing people to try and do. Weigh the risks of the trying or doing, against the reward you, the person trying or doing, the team and the company will get.
thought for the week 