Many of you know that I was born and raised in Wisconsin and along with that comes the pride, joy, and tremendous stress from being a Green Bay Packer fan. Whether it was watching the “ice bowl” with Dallas in the 1960′s or the Super Bowl win in the 1996-1997 season, the Packers are my team, win or lose. And they have lost a lot.
But, for 16-years, the Packers have had a shot. The organization improved from the long drought of championships earned in the 1960′s. With the organization’s improvement came improvement in the talent of their players and an attitude that was more about winning the right way instead of just playing.
Nothing symbolizes winning the right way more than Brett Favre. In a career that is mostly full of superlatives with a few drawbacks — everyone has their weaknesses — Brett, for me, showed us that the game was meant to be fun, was about team instead of individual players or managers, and about helping each other as members of the team.
How that team jells, changes, rises to challenges, and performs on the field has been a long-time fascination with me. How can we take those change dynamics and provide them to the teams in our work? How can we instill the learning and discipline to our passions? What does management and individual contributors have to do to make things change?
I don’t know the answers to those questions, but I continue to watch the game looking for answers.
It will be a lot tougher to look at now because Brett — and his great wife and supporter, Deanna — will no longer be there on Sunday.
Photo credit: Morry Gash/AP from msnbc.com
My favorite pundit story about Brett: Peter King’s Sports Illustrated article on “A Penny’s True Value.”
Scot
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The Packers have lost a great leader and one of the fiercest football competitors of the last two decades. Even though my team was on the losing end of Super Bowl XXXI, I was in awe of some of the things he did in that game. He certainly proved there is no “I” in “team.”
The Packers have lost a great leader and one of the fiercest football competitors of the last two decades. Even though my team was on the losing end of Super Bowl XXXI, I was in awe of some of the things he did in that game. He certainly proved there is no “I” in “team.”
Not originally from Wisconsin I must admit I didn’t really get the whole Packers thing at first. But Wisconsin sucks you in, and I get it now. Favre will be missed.
Not originally from Wisconsin I must admit I didn’t really get the whole Packers thing at first. But Wisconsin sucks you in, and I get it now. Favre will be missed.
The Packers have been preparing with Aaron Rogers waiting in the wings.
At the Brett Favre Charity softball game I went to two years ago, Aaron Rogers, it was very clear, was a big team leader as well. Plus, he has performed well when on the field.
But, as with all leadership changes, it is a change. One that we’ll learn to adapt to…just like in business, except this is played out for all to see.
The Packers have been preparing with Aaron Rogers waiting in the wings.
At the Brett Favre Charity softball game I went to two years ago, Aaron Rogers, it was very clear, was a big team leader as well. Plus, he has performed well when on the field.
But, as with all leadership changes, it is a change. One that we’ll learn to adapt to…just like in business, except this is played out for all to see.
[...] March, Brett Favre, the distinguished Green Bay quarterback, retired. I recorded his entire retirement press conference and shed a few tears with him. I recorded and [...]