Mid-Week Mentor

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

The Turkey Bowl - Life Lessons, Hiring the Right Talent

A life lesson about success from a family tradition is included in this 2 minute read.

Family traditions are all about creating oneness and connections with family and memories that last a life time. One tradition in our family is the annual Turkey Bowl Thanksgiving morning. Ten am is kick-off at Plum Bottom (the name given to our family farm by our Native American neighbors 200 years ago). Everyone is welcome, family, visiting friends, men and women. My brother Dave lines the field 60 yards by 30 yards.

The rules are simple:
- 7
players on a team (quarterback, three linemen, three eligible receivers)
- 3 one thousand rush count
- 30 minute rolling time per half
- 6 points for a touchdown
- one point for the extra point
- no kicks

As you can imagine it eventually boils down to a guy thing; your team winning and the team captain displaying the turkey trophy on their living room mantel (the year I won my wife put it in a box in the basement). It’s a great conversation starter with guests.

The team captains have two important tasks:
1. Picking the teams
2. Selecting the most outstanding player at the end of the game.

By dinner time, all over the hill, the participants older than 28 are really hurting and can barely walk. Of course, at dinner in the various homes mental highlights are replayed with the ball thrown farther, guys running faster, and jumping higher than anyone could believe. Like many holiday traditions this is all in fun and forgotten until the next year.

This year. . . . could be different. A ringer is coming to dinner from California, Jeremiah my son-in-law to be. Somehow we need to get him on our team. He is fast, unknown and will give his team a real advantage. The key, my team captain has to pick him. The strategy has already begun. . . . . smile

The point, the team captain who picks the best players wins every year. This is something we have known since kindergarten and it is as true today as back then, whether you are winning the family Turkey Bowl or hiring your management or sales team.

Do you want to win? Then determine to pick or to recruit the right talent. Yes, I know, we can coach people and see improvement. To win our Superbowl in life and in business we need to pick the right players who have the talent and skills to help us win today.

What will you do today pick and recruit the right people?