The Importance of A-Players

The desire for control is a bad thing... so I've been told.
An ego-centered belief that you have any power over outcome.

A belief I've held true — until recently.

Last week I held a wellness retreat in Kefalonia, Greece.
An idyllic location for a transformational week centered on mindset, movement & meditation.

I've handled every minute detail of every retreat I've run — of which I'm approaching four dozen. This retreat was a bit different, as my intention was to pass the torch and set others up for success in my absence moving forward.

Unfortunately, that didn't quite go as planned and made for some less than desirable moments.

Here are my takeaways:

Communicate, Document & Communicate Again: What one person sees is never what someone else sees, even if you believe you are communicating clearly. Next time I will communicate expected outcomes and document them... once conveyed, I will communicate them again and ask for them to be reiterated in the other's words to ensure comprehension.

Surround Yourself With A-Players, Always: A-players only care about surrounding themselves with other A-players. B and C-players are happy to just be included in the game. Problem is, a single B or C-player has the ability to lose the game for a team of A-players. A new rule of thumb for me... only step on to the field if the latter doesn't exist.

Lean Into What You're Innately Good At: I saw control as a negative and something I was working to condition out of myself. I viewed it through the lens of egocentrism and that I believe I was better than others. The truth is, in some arenas, I am... and those are the ones I must lean into without hesitation. If this retreat taught me anything, it's that humility is knowing where your zone of competence ends and another's begins. 

You win some, and you learn from others.
It's only a loss if you fail to learn.

Inputs Only Podcast:

Brian Bogert is a heart surgeon without a blade and helps high-performing leaders find purpose within their pain.

In this episode, expect to learn how to shine a light of awareness on your subconscious pain, the single most important tool to create momentum in your life, the lynchpins to success in business, and more.

Including my personal favorite, Brian’s mental models surrounding surrender, grace and consistency.

The Words That Can Save Any Relationship - Brian Bogert | E23
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Quote On My Mind:

“Learning is a gift, even when pain is your teacher.”

— Michael Jordan

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In Case You Missed It:

In last weeks edition, I wrote about — The Turkish Experience

A rough culture on the outside, and a surprising revelation on the inside.