When you are lucky to have been around the sports and entertainment business as long as some of us have, you end up in some of those “How did I get there” places, be it teaching at an Ivy League school like Columbia, helping put together a Broadway show like we did with “Lombardi” and several others, or like today, speaking to yes…former Navy SEALS and Special Ops leaders who are looming to figure out how they can best use their skills to craft what’s next in their life’s narrative.
The way I got to Wednesday’s opportunity was in a roundabout way that started with a chance encounter at an FC Bayern Munich game in Los Angeles this summer. One colleague introduced me to another who led me to a gentleman named John Allen a former SEAL who has helped create an organization called Elite Meet, which helps create special opportunities for careers for a very high level of members of the military now in civilian life. It is invitation only, and today’s group number around 70, most of whom had or were going through their next stage of education at some of the world’s top Universities…Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford etc….following careers short and long defending our country.
While you would think these skilled leaders would be comfortable in any setting, in reality their lives, which were filled with huge responsibility well beyond what we in traditional fields of employment usually experience well out of harm’s way, have in some way hindered them from best taking their skills and translating them into a narrative that anyone can relate to. They are so adept at problem solving, building consensus, evaluating situations and leading by example, but their work and their culture has taught them silence and humility almost to a fault. As several told me, it is not in their nature to talk widely about themselves or their skills, so they need a push to maybe help adapt.
Part of that adaptation is being comfortable telling their stories in a way that is not boastful, but is impactful, and another aspect is in using the tools that are available, including social media, to effectively boost their profile and help them get into a narrative with the right people where their skills can rise to the top in any organization. While my discussion and the one before me led by Dr. Harvey Schiller on his amazing transition from military life to the highest levels of sports and media leadership were very topline, one thing was clear; these folks have not just basic skills, but advanced skills that are at the core of success in most businesses today.
Throughout the rest of the day I listened in as experts from search, finance, marketing, law, real estate and other areas came in, and the same words kept coming true; you need to refine the story to the audience you are speaking to, and communicate the skills you have that can adapt to fill a position that needs to be filled. It is not bragging, it is not imposing your will; it is smart storytelling, and impressive business.
While it is always humbling to be in and around Ground Zero; this morning as I walked towards the Freedom Tower I casually went by the 9/11 Memorial and saw yet another name of a Brooklyn colleague from years ago, Mike Ferrugio, who we lost on that tragic day; today was even more thought provoking and introspective, as I was given a gift to speak to these amazing people of will character and fortitude who put themselves in harm’s way for all of us. Give back to them with some things we have learned to be successful? In reality we can’t give enough, and it was my pleasure, just the week before Veteran’s Day, to help move the needle a little for those in attendance.
They all have great stories and infinite skills, we just needed to coax them a little.
The pleasure was ours, the storytelling is theirs for the taking.
