BHP 105: Solo Episode | Lessons From Tony Dungy

Last week we had the chance to meet and learn from Super Bowl winning and NFL Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy.

Lessons from Coach Tony Dungy:

Excellence can be hindered, but it can’t be stopped.
Advice from his Dad: Dream. Think. Don’t follow the crowd
Mom: Don’t sell your soul for success. It’s not what you do. It’s HOW you do it.
Legendary Steelers Coach Chuck knoll: “Don’t make your profession your life. If you do, you’ll be disappointed.”
Random tidbits from Tony during a Q & A:
- Be a model. Model it.
- Demonstrate the example. Leave work early. Take vacations. Prioritize family
- What are you doing every single day to live that out?
- First Corinthians
  - Everyone is running the race and vying for first place. Only 1 winner of the race (in the metaphor, but not always true in life)
  - Run (play) to win (this is permission to compete)
  - Make sure you’re running the right race
  - Win for eternity (keep your soul & reputation in tact)
- Family:
  - Be there. Be around
  - Show up for people
- Organizations:
  - Create parameters for what you’re looking for in a person
    - values
    - Work ethic
- Maintaining humility
  - Giving back and connecting with community is a great way
  - Mentoring (like he did w/ Mike Vick, et al.)
- Navigating adversity and guiding family through it
  - “Easy to thank the lord when winning. Can we say in challenging times as well?”
- Leading “alphas” in an NFL locker room (or A-players in business)
  - show that you love them
  - Develop trust and respect
  - They’ll want to make you happy
Another lesson from Chuck Knoll: [As a coach] Your job is to help your players play better (and be better people)
Get to know them. What makes them tick, what motivates them?
Hire staff that is encouragers/helpers
For those that don’t respond immediately:
Ask them: “Do I need to scream at you in order for you to give your best?” Most adult will say no.
When taking over an organization & charged with changing the culture, TALK to the individuals who are “holdover personnel” to find out what is & wasn’t working. What do they want to see changed? Allow them to play a part in the exploration of why they weren’t winning before. This helps impart ownership & responsibility to them for the results that you (collectively) seek going forward.
Communication breakdowns can cause little misunderstanding to become BIG issues.
- The Tampa Bay Bucs & hotel issue
Talk about integrity
Love them enough to tell them the truth.
- Lamar Thomas story – cut for domestic issues.
- LT texted him in 2018 and thanked him for being the first person to ever call him on his BS. Said Tony’s courage to do this changed his life.
Garrett, the CEO of Men Of Iron (Men Of Iron hosted the dinner)
- “What consumes your mind, controls your life”
- We’re all busy. People Make time for the things that matter.
- Important things are rarely easy
- Embrace the adventure of life.
- Climbing the mountain:
  - investment of time and resources
  - Need leader(s), info, or mentorship
  - Brotherhood established
  - See the summit and realize their is more to the journey than just climbing the mountain
- Avail yourself to the gifts /opportunities in your life