As I watch my beloved Washington Redskins team finish off another disappointing season, I find myself drifting back to the good old days. We had a great owner in Jack Kent Cooke, a great coach in Joe Gibbs, great players like Joe Theismann, John Riggins, Darrell Green, Art Monk, the Fun Bunch, the Hogs, and so many more. But in my mind, the true hero of the franchise was a man named Bobby Beathard.
The great Bobby Beathard
So what was his secret? He believed in avoiding the temptation of being blinded by the skill of a player, and instead, he looked for the raw athleticism and the will of the player. He had little interest in searching for a player who was displaying all sorts of talent now. He was much more interested in a player who was displaying all sorts of athletic ability and heart. He felt the skills could always be taught – but not the will.
Isn’t it funny how lessons like this can quietly enter into the fabric of our soul? I was just graduating from college when I read about Bobby Beathard and when I learned those lessons firsthand, and yet, it continues to be a very powerful concept to me. The concept, skill versus will, resonated with me, and it empowered me.
I totally believed that will would win over skill, and I began to unconsciously gravitate to various events to prove it. After years of battling against my lack of size in basketball, I started running distance races. I started with a 10k, and then I began to run half marathons, then marathons, and beyond. These events were events that had little to do with height or muscle. These were events that isolated the will from the skill, and I loved them.
Feeling good on “Skill vs. Will Day”
To this day, I still search for various tests of “will versus skill.” My most recent test was a climb I made to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro last month. I wrote a lengthy story about it, but I’ll save you the trouble of having to read it. I pulled a few muscles in training, injured an ankle, had some gear that was less than perfect, and I battled a stomach that decided it didn’t want to eat for six days. It was a bit humbling, and at times, a tad embarrassing because I couldn’t help but compare myself to the other climbers next to me. But when it came to the actual climb from 15,000’ to 19,341’, or as I called it, “Skill vs. Will Day,” I was finally in my element, and I could not have been happier.
I don’t tell you about this because I want to brag: Believe me, I wasn’t a pretty sight to see when I came off that mountain. I tell this to you to remind you about you! We have a new year coming up. If you’ve read my BLArticles,® you know how I feel about New Years. If it’s been a tough year, it’s just about behind you. If it’s been a good year, why would you not be excited to jump into the new one that’s just about here? It’s a can’t miss holiday!
Why can’t this be your year? What’s holding you back… a lack of skill? You’ll learn the skill because almost anyone can learn the skill. It’s overrated anyhow. What everyone cannot learn is the will, and yet, that’s something that is 100% in your control. There are no barriers of entry, and all you need is a personal hunger, a willingness to work hard, a desire to succeed, and a belief in you. As a matter of fact, the only real obstacle to tapping into your will is that you have to make a conscious effort to do so.
Happy holidays, and here’s to a wonderful New Year. Make it a year where you feel empowered to test your will. Win, lose, or draw, I promise, if you do, it will be a year you’ll never forget.
Rob congratulations on your climb!!
That had to be amazing.
Will over skill all the way every time.
Happy new year!
I haven’t seen Kerry Perl for, I’m guessing over a decade, but one thing I remember about you, sir, is your tremendous will. A will to do the best you can for sure, but as a manager, I personally witnessed your will to help those you managed do the best they can. Great hearing from you Kerry, and thank you very much for posting!
What do you have for those of us with skill and will……….just kidding, but there are people with ego’s that do think they have it all.
I had a long conversation yesterday with a friend about being a changed man…….since my ego driven days when I knew everything to today where I wish I remembered what I knew then.
Life is full of things we wish we could take back and it was cleansing to recognize the mistake of it all……
Have a Happy and very prosperous New Year.
I think we all have skill and will, but I’m curious about which of the two traits we posses more of. I was talking to a doctor today and quite frankly, I was hoping he possessed more skill than will! For most of us, I’ll take will every day, and knowing you as I do, I’m quite sure you would too! Thanks for posting Bob.
My experience in coaching was to focus on the will first, and second the “fun” of fundamentals in enjoying the game and game plan. The same applies to life.
Terry
Great connection between sports and life there! I coached many, many teams myself, and with Bobby Beathard in my brian, when I participated in drafts, I always looked for the will over the skill kids to coach. And boy, do I see that trait playing out in life scenarios. Thanks for posting Terry!
I very seldom use the term “Right On”, but this is appropriate.
I remember a guy in college who just never seemed to understand any of the concepts (engineering, physics, mathematics) and was always asking for help. Now I wasn’t the brightest kid, but I did get it and was able to help him. I had more skill than he did, but he got top grades in the classes and I was down around the middle (sometimes bottom). His will was greater than my skill.
When I graduated with a degree in electronics engineering, i lucked out because I had learned vacuum tubes (very poorly) and luckily they were switching to transistors (1 or 0- how difficult could that be?). So, I graduated, but was not much of an engineer – never had the skill- but I had a lot of will and after a few failures made it into management and succeeded beyond my dreams. Believe me, there were a lot more skilled people than I – and many were willing to point that out to me, but perseverance, the will to succeed, the will to contribute and the desire to help others always held me in good stead. Some of the “smarter” managers surrounded themselves with people who wouldn’t challenge them or make them look bad- I surrounded myself with people who were smarter than I and we all succeeded.
Thanks for the words of wisdom and have a great, happy and healthy new year.
Ah, the old surround yourself with people who won’t challenge you as a manager mistake. Ironic when you think that the true test of any good manager is simply for that manager to realize that his or her job is to make those they manage as successful as they can. We both know that will vs. skill is not quite as black and white as I am trying to make it, but it’s a reminder to us all. Thanks for posting Bob and happy holidays to you as well!
I believe that the biggest differentiator between “will” and “no will” is one’s positive attitude and enthusiasm or lack thereof. To be clear, there is definitely a line between legitimate positivity and absurdity. However, there are certainly a lot of real life examples that a reasonable onlooker would think absurd that ultimately resulted in a miraculous result. —1980-USA’s win over Russia for the gold medal in Hockey; Kennedy’s announcement in May 1961 that the US would land a man on the moon by the end of the decade and (although obviously controversial)Lance Armstrong’s unprecedented 7 time Tour de France victories.
I believe that the secret is in the decisions that you make when you know in your mind and heart that you will succeed and in that the desired end result is your highest priority. After that, I believe that your actions are key—will you be more relaxed, focused and energized? Certainly, your actions would also include getting enough sleep, eating healthy, training adequately and doing everything in your power to put yourself in a position to succeed. Alternatively, if your attitude waivers, won’t you be more stressed, wavering and restrained?
Here’s one of my new favorite modern day stories of will power. Rob Jolles climbs Kilmanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain and wills himself to finish the last 8 return miles with a sprained ankle. Although this might lean more to absurdity!
This comment coming from a man who gives of his time, week after week, to help others become healthier. He has been running his free, “Boot Camp in the Park,” which has exceeded over 500 participants since its inception in 2011! As for your modern story of willpower, to be accurate, that was a fracture of the lateral malleolus, but I digress. Thanks for posting Brian.
So how does imagination and dreaming big fit into this, do you think? More or less important than will & determination? I guess those qualities are related…
I love this question. Let’s put imagination in the “Will” category and here’s why. I’m not so sure you can learn imagination, just like I’m not so sure you can learn, “Will.” As always, thanks for posting Charlotte!
HI–what a great writeup for the New Year. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thank you for reading it, and posting! Happy “Can’t Miss Holiday” – also known as New Year.
Wow, what a great accomplishment, Rob! But of course you could do it. You are “Mr. Will.” Look at the Ironman. You can do anything!
Well, I am a big fan of the Will side of things – that’s for sure. I appreciate the kind words Susan. I can assure you, there’s plenty of things I can’t seem to master… guitar comes to mind right now. Thanks so much for posting.
Rob – this is a good one, really believe that this can translate to success in any realm, wish kids learned this lesson too
I agree with you 100% Jeff. Imagine the opportunities that open up the moment a kid learns how Will can make anything possible. Thanks for posting Jeff.
Rob – I’m a day late in responding to this OUTSTANDING “BLArticle” (Did I get that right?)
You’ve done some great ones – but I think this one ‘takes the cake’! A great way to close out the “OLD” – and bring in the “NEW”!
There are probably a million or more stories out there – about people who were short on talent or skill – but who overcame that – by sheer ‘determination’ or ‘WILL! (Some folks are REALLY lucky! They have BOTH!) From a sports perspective – one name that pops up – is a 6’10”, 250 lb. giant – by the name of Lebron James – who, just this week was voted ‘Outstanding Athlete of the Year’! He’s even ‘toying’ with the idea of becoming a ‘Tight End’in professional football! Can you imagine that! I CAN!
From a coaching standpoint – you couldn’t do much better than Vince Lombardi – who once said “Losing – is like dying’!
Have a fantastic year – in 2014, Rob!
JM
“C.T.”
It’s not a BLArticle® without hearing from John Monsul. I know you well enough to know you are a “Will” man. Thanks for posting!
Rob,
Thanks for an informative newsletter and congrats on your recent climbing experience.
John
Thanks John. That climb was a classic Will vs Skill move because boy was my Skill level not up to par. Great hearing from you and thank you very much for jumping in and posting!
Rob, congratulations on the climb. This piece really struck home with me. As a sales manager and youth coach I have no doubts. I want the will and skill. However, if I need to give on one side, the resume doesn’t get the job done. Give me the executive or young player that will run up hill in the heat!!!
You like the player who will run up the hill in the heat because that’s who you are! First time I ever drafted a basketball team to coach eight point guards showed up for our first practice. Guess which position I played as a basketball player? Great hearing from you Lance!
Rob, cool climb. As one willfull undersized ex point guard to another- Happy New Year.
Never bet against an undersized point guard! Happy New Year to you as well.