“We are drowning in information but starving for wisdom.”
EO Wilson (h/t Kevin Carroll)
We often talk about how our business is one of relationships, both those carefully forged and those which are quite random. Sitting back and trying to imagine or craft a plan as to how one gets from one place to another on the journey is really tough to do, as there are so many factors that we have little control over, and frankly, embracing the ride, and the journey and realizing that the path can sometimes choose you vs you imposing your limited will on the outside forces makes the ride even more interesting.
Two cases in point from the last week on how if you embrace the journey, listen, trust in yourself and others and be open and accepting to where you can go, you never know what amazing things can lie ahead.
About 12 years ago, as I was thrust into the unemployment pool that eventually led to the consulting business I am in, a colleague, Ben Sturner, asked me to meet with Tony Ponturo, who had recently left Anheuser Busch after 30 years and was hanging out his own shingle back in New York. Tony for those who may not know, really helped lead and build what sports marketing has become, with Bud becoming the case study for how to grow, develop a brand and build an industry that connects with consumers. It was a small project, just draft a release and help set up some intro’s and it went well. I had never met Tony before and we hit off. Work finished, on we go and we agreed to stay in touch.
A few months later Tony called to catch up, saying he was doing more and more in theater and he and a producing partner had an idea for a show that touched on sports, and would I be open for a meeting. Never passing up a chance to learn I said yes, and met Tony and Fran Kirmser at his office in Rock Center a few days later. They showed me a book, David Maraniss’ “When Pride Still Mattered” and said they were going to do a play on the life of Vince Lombardi and would I be interested in maybe helping? Given my Brooklyn roots, my Italian heritage, the fact that I too went to Fordham, had worked there and also really helped rewrite the history of Fordham football, it seemed like a really easy fit, so we started small and then it grew.
Without going into all the details, “Lombardi,” which opened 10 years ago this past week at Circle in the Square Theater, was the longest running play on Broadway that year, garnered a Tony award nomination that helped spur a career reboot for the legendary Judith Light, helped give an amazing cast of rising stars a chance to work together and then go from there to careers many may have only dreamed about reimagined how sports and theater could fit together, and became a launch pad for so many relationships personal and professional for all of us.
All from a chance meeting referral that I was open to taking.
Then this past Thursday in class at Columbia we were blessed to have another old friend join us to talk about storytelling. I first met Kevin Carroll when I was with the Sixers and he was first the trainer for St. Joseph’s University and then the trainer for the Sixers in my final of three seasons there. However where he went from there, in the role of Creative Catalyst for Nike and then on to inspiring millions of others with his gift for positive storytelling and inspiration that had ZERO to do with athletic training, but all to do with timing, relationships, and the ability to listen and think open mindedly, is really legendary.
You can learn all of Kevin’s story here, but keep reading, and you will see how the randomness of relationships ties together.
Here’s how it started.
In 2000 I was working at the USTA and was asked by the ATP’s J. Wayne Richmond to come down to an event they were hosting with their tournament directors to learn more about how they ran their businesses. Ironically that was 20 years ago YESTERDAY, October 23, and I only remember that because it was also the night of “The Monday Night Miracle,” the New York Jets comeback from 30 points down on Monday Night Football to beat the Miami Dolphins, which we watched in a bar in Ponte Vedra after the meetings (amazing how again random events you remember!) The next day before I left, Greg Sharko asked me if I wanted to check out the Jacksonville Jaguars facility on the way to the airport. Again, not wanting to pass up an opportunity, I said sure. In the bowels of the former Gator Bowl I randomly met a staffer for the Jaguars named Quentin Williams. Q was from Yonkers, played football at Boston College, and was working in a myriad of front office positions for the Jags, and could not have been nicer. I then left and flew home, but Q and I exchanged cards and it led to a longtime friendship as his career as a speaker, litigator, teacher and industry professional grew.
So how does all this tie together.
When the Pandemic started Q and I were speaking and he was telling me about all his foundation, Dedication to Community, was doing bringing groups together in challenging times, especially working with law enforcement. Then George Floyd happened, and Q, who had built such a stellar reputation for himself, ended up at the center not of a problem, but of a solution as to how “beautiful listening” and working together can solve issues between leadership, law enforcement and the community. We have started to work together, and his foundation has exploded with opportunity and success in the past seven months. It was never really planned, but the relationship at the right time, found its place.
OK that’s all nice but how does it tie together?
One of Q’s biggest supporters is Jon Gordon, and one of the storytelling efforts Q has done in this recent journey was to join Jon, and Steve Stowe of the Miami Heat (who have been a huge partner for D2C) on Jon’s podcast. So, after it’s done in August, I go to Jon’s site and see who else he has talked to recently.
And there is Kevin Carroll.
We reconnect on twitter, speak on the phone, catch up, and KC ends up speaking to my class this week, with an opportunity to again learn, grow and inspire others through the gift of storytelling, and curiosity.
The road is not planned, the connections may seem random, but every one has value if you are open to trusting in the journey. This happens all the time if you are inclusive and are aware to look, listen, trust and keep learning.
Oh, and here is the podcast with Jon Gordon which got me to this past Thursday. Learn all about Kevin’s journey in his own voice, and I dare you not to be inspired.
Things to listen for:
The Interrobang and what it means and how it inspires relationships
What a Creative Catalyst is and how we can inspire that creativity in all of us
How High Visibility Communication, driven by images and stories vs just words, help us shape the world we are in and how it helps us to reimagine who we are and what we do
The importance of being curious and how inclusive learning breaks down walls and forge connections we could not have imagined.
And so many other pieces.
Remember…the path sometimes chooses us; we need to embrace the ride. Is there any better proof from one week?
Onward!
