"Your invaluable lessons in work ethic have stayed with me for my entire life. You also taught me what it takes to become a champion." - Dwight Freeney.

Last weekend, I watched the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where two former Chicago Bears were honored. The acceptance speeches of all inductees were brimming with wisdom and inspiration, with common themes that I found particularly enlightening. In this post, I will delve into these shared insights and the lessons I gleaned from these extraordinary men, hoping to ignite the same inspiration in you.

Integrity

Many inductees emphasized integrity, often defined as 'doing the right thing when no one is looking.' Integrity is more than just a word; it's a quality that signifies honesty and strong moral principles. It carries weight and is crucial for success in any field.

Regardless of our walk of life, career path, or organizational structure, most mission or value statements call us to serve others to the best of our ability. This act of service, whether in a professional or personal capacity, is of utmost importance. Seek mentors whose traits serve the best interests of the organization and the communities they represent. Whether you're a volunteer, a full-time employee, a part-time worker, or a household leader, your service can make this world a better place for all.

Work Ethic

The inductees spoke about maintaining a solid work ethic as an essential trait for success as a player. This trait asks us to show up, be present, and, as Lou Ferrigno once said, "Always put 110% into each day."

As I write this paragraph, I recall an anecdote from my time in the US Army, stationed at Fort Irwin. Our bi-annual physical fitness test required each soldier to do as many pushups and sit-ups as possible in two minutes (based on age and sex). A group of us observed one of our colleagues stop after he met the required pushups for his age bracket with plenty of time to spare. We asked him afterward why he did not keep going. He replied, "Because I am a minimum man."

No matter your path in this lifetime, especially when part of a team, always remember that a group dynamic needs more from you than to "just get by" when serving others. Here are words of wisdom from a Deputy Chief I once worked for - "In every organization you will find that 10% of the people do 90% of the work." As a human race, we should strive to do better than that.

Resilience

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, obstacles, or disappointments. On the long and winding road through this lifetime, we will encounter roadblocks that may impede our established goals. Think about the dedication it takes to become an Olympic athlete—hours dedicated to practice, recovery from injuries, successes and shortcomings in their respective fields, and the mental anguish they may encounter- believing they did not live up to the expectations of others. However, with dedication, these athletes make it to the world stage (whether or not they win a medal). These individuals make up a small percentage of the world's population to achieve this feat.

The story of gymnast Simone Biles is an excellent example of resiliency. Three years ago, while performing the vault exercise, she succumbed to mental health stress and withdrew from the rest of the competition. Social media lit up with harsh words about her shortcomings. Simone ignored the naysayers, sought mental health therapy, and returned this year stronger than ever to win several more Olympic medals. A lesson worth learning from.

Taking Responsibility

As long as we exist on this earth, we must make decisions that are either crucial or inconsequential. Either type will carry a weight of responsibility with it. In today's world, it has become in vogue to blame others when our choices do not come to fruition or go sideways. However, to live a life with integrity and ethics, we need a cultural shift towards taking personal responsibility for our actions. Food for thought on this subject matter - the Indigenous people believe that what you do in this lifetime will affect the next seven generations.

In closing, former Carolina Panther, Chicago Bear, and Green Bay Packer Julius Peppers issued an excellent call to action for all humans when he said,

"You could be a Hall of Fame dad, a Hall of Fame student, teacher, spouse, coworker, friend, whatever it is, whatever it is that you do, do it with respect, integrity, passion, resilience, dedication and gratitude. That alone will make you a Hall of Fame person and you too can have a legacy that lives on forever too." -Julius Peppers.

Until next time -

Namaste,

Tim