against the odds - LEADERSHIP MINTS

By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Here’s an idea to help you bounce back from adversity. Reading time: 2:46.

The rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat snap of a polishing cloth seemingly fired like the rhythmic shots from a machine gun. A shoe shine professional led the attack on those leather shoes. With passion. And pride in work well done.

Those shoes, squealing under the siege of that polishing cloth, took a beating and came out beaming. Just like a leader.

Next time you feel the friction in the marketplace, the next time you feel someone is trying to rub you out, take a look at the shine on your shoes and appreciate the value of friction.

Instead of wearing you down, friction can rev you up.

Consider the beating that Don Shula took in becoming the first pro football coach to lose two Super Bowls in embarrassing fashion.

In the 1969 season, his Baltimore Colts lost to Joe Namath and the underdog New York Jets in one of sport’s all-time upsets, 16-7, in Super Bowl III.

And in the 1971 season, Shula’s Miami Dolphins set the Super Bowl record for the lowest score and for longest to be shutout in a game. Miami finally scored with 3:19 remaining in its 24-3 loss in Super Bowl VI to the Dallas Cowboys.

But Don Shula battle back the next year in 1972 and coached the Miami Dolphins to the first unbeaten, untied 17-0-0 record in more than a half century of the National Football League and went on to win Super Bowl VII.

Beaten, battered and bruised, the Miami Dolphins battled back stronger than ever before for a perfect record that still stands 40 years later.

Continue reading “Turning Friction Into Polished Perfection” →

By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Having a bad day? Here’s a quick peek into the history books to give you a lift. Reading time: 3:18

The Brooklyn Bridge Stands as a Testament to Perseverance

You’re in the middle of a big project and you suffer a terrible accident that paralyzes you for life. You can hardly speak. What do you do?

If you’re Washington Roebling you continue for 13 years to build the Brooklyn Bridge. Roebling was paralyzed when he suffered the bends while inspecting the footings of the bridge.

Instead of giving up, he supervised the bridge construction through binoculars from his window. He communicated construction orders to his staff through a finger-tapping code with his wife who relayed the message to his engineers.

Against the odds like that, leaders find a way to get it done. Consider the following odds and the leaders who faced them. Continue reading “Leading Against the Odds” →