Are You a Hall of Fame’r

Over the last few years, I have been fascinated with high performance. This fascination has inspired me to explore what characteristics or traits drive ultimate human and business performance. What makes someone great? Jim Collins’ famous book, Good to Great, describes companies that separate themselves in the market. He researches and explores the characteristics of companies that make the jump from being good companies to great companies. How do they stand out? What drives them to that level of success? How are they able to achieve such high levels of performance? 

My interest has led me to books such as Good to Great, The Captain Class, Great Teams (16 Things High Performing Organizations Do Differently), Winning, Competitive Advantage, and more. Some of these books are strictly about business. Others dive into peak levels of athletic and team performance. There are parallels between sports and business that are easy for me to see. I love sports and work in business. 

Reading and researching this topic created the concept of leaving no doubt. And now, a goal or mission in my life is to build upon my desire to encourage people. If we can help each other reach our highest potential and peak level of performance, the world will be a better place. 

What helps me at times is to view things in a different context. Would your co-workers, bosses, or competitors think you were a Hall of Famer? The following traits aren’t official, but they are traits I associate with sports hall of famers:

They Stand Out: In their prime, they stand out as difference makers. Their talent and work ethic collide and are displayed prominently. 

Impact: Some players put up huge numbers but make little impact. Think about this, the career scoring average between Kobe Bryant and Zach Levine is five points. 100% of my five readers know who Kobe is. 20% know who Zach is. Impact matters.

Values/Character: Hall of Fame players align with the core values of their respective sports. They are icons of the sport. Yes, you can argue that some bad apples get in, but by and large, most of the Hall of Famers showed a commitment to character and sportsmanship. 

Overall Value: You know a Hall of Fame player when you see one. The combination of skills, talent, work ethic, record, impact, and representation of the sport indicates the overall value the player had in their career. 

Others Vote: When teammates vote for a player to be the captain, it is one of the great compliments they will get in their career. Entering the Hall of Fame requires votes from other Hall of Fame players (teammates, former greats, and even the competition), the press, and a collection of committees. Typically, 80% of the voters must agree. Would your peers vote for you? How about your competitors? 

For many, being in the Hall of Fame is a culmination of hard work, sacrifice, and commitment. It is a defining achievement based on and built upon a collection of defining moments. Oh, how lucky is the one who gets to say, “This, right now, is the greatest moment of my life.” 

Are you a Hall of Famer? A Leave No Doubter?