Smart Business Strategy: How to Build Your Own Tom Brady
A recent article talked about the New England Patriot’s Tom Brady before he became the elite quarterback. You see, Brady wasn’t always so picture perfect – far from it. But if you adopt a smart business strategy like the New England Patriots, you can build your own printing team of Tom Bradys.
Jen Engel’s article details Tom Brady’s amazing story. He was drafted 199th at the 2000 NFL Scouting Combine. Look at the accompanying picture, you can see why. This is not the muscular, sculpted athlete we’ve come to expect in the NFL, and his career at Michigan was hardly a stand-out affair.
It’s not surprising he dropped, considering NFL owners tend to focus on talent. You find the most talented player, and then you hope like heck they have the desire to become a winner.
Tom Brady upended that notion. He was not the most talented player at that combine. Not even close. The difference is that he worked his tail off to get a chance to run New England’s offense, and once he was given it, he would not relinquish.
But how would anyone know Tom Brady would become that player? How do you find a talented player out there who can make your company grow? I’m going to go to my three criteria for success in a printing owner, employee or NFL quarterback – the 3Cs.
Competency: Just like in the NFL, you have to start with competency. Does your new hire have the skills to succeed, or at least the intellectual capability to learn and expand their knowledge base? Brady had proven he was a competent quarterback through his career at Michigan. Check one.
Commitment: Now we move from the quantifiable land of 40-yard dashes to the qualitative area of commitment. Can your hire make a commitment to getting better? Here’s where you can tell a lot by their history. Tom Brady wasn’t the fastest or the strongest, but he always worked to get better wherever he played. He had commitment. Check two.
Character: This is the most important element you can find, and one that’s nearly impossible to judge. Does your hire have the character to withstand the tough challenges? The only way to find out: Be sure about competency and commitment, and then give your pick a chance to prove their character.
Tom Brady proved his character when he took over the starting job for the Patriots and never gave it back. Apply the 3Cs, and you’ll see that Tom Brady should have been chosen above other players in the draft. Use the same criteria for your next hire: I guarantee super results.
(Photo by Jeffrey Beall)
Click on the button below to receive Rock LaManna's 5 Key Strategies for Printing Executives. In a series of 5 direct, hard-hitting emails, you'll discover essential strategies for today's printing executives.
Rock LaManna provides executive coaching for printing owners looking to grow their printing business, merge with a synergistic partner, make a strategic acquisition, or create a succession plan.