5 Lessons from Tom Brady

"You know what my favorite ring is? The next one..." — Tom Brady

Early today, news broke that NFL legend Tom Brady had officially hung up his boots. When I first moved to the US in 2012, I was proud to call Boston home and became an avid Brady (and New England Patriots) fan.

After a stellar career with the Patriots, Brady embarked on a new challenge in Tampa Bay, a journey I closely followed. His seemingly impossible feat of winning a Super Bowl in his first year — at his age and with what had long been a mediocre team — was a masterclass in character.

It wasn't just talent he brought, it was leadership. Real leadership.

A lot of people want the badge that says they're a leader, but the only real metric is whether you inspire people to follow you. After all, you can't be a 'leader' in a movement of one.

Brady attracted superstar talent and corporate interests that ensured his move to the Bucs was a massive success, both on and off the field.

But for all the recent fanfare, which is well deserved after 10 Super Bowl appearances and seven victories, it's easy to forget where Brady's journey could have gone...

As a lanky and lumbering prospect, with little physical presence (aside from his 6 foot 4 inches frame), he was regarded as a nobody. During the 2000 NFL draft, 22-year-old Brady was chosen in the sixth round as the 199th pick by the New England Patriots.

“I was so excited, I was like, 'I don't have to be an insurance salesman! '” he commented on how he felt.

Little was expected of him.

At Foxboro, he met Pats owner Robert Kraft for the first time and muttered the now legendary words, "I'm Tom Brady. And I'm the best decision this organization has ever made."

Because there were two things the statistics couldn't convey:

1. His competitive spirit, and
2. His love of the game.

When you combine those two attributes, and put him in an environment where he can be mentored by skilled coaches (and some luck with injuries), massive success is a near certainty.

To me, today feels a bit like the day when NRL legend Darren Lockyer retired. Both Brady and Lockyer embodied the competitive spirit and love of the game. In doing so, they were only competing with themselves, with the sole aim of inching closer to their potential.

They were captivating to watch and both leagues are weaker without their involvement.

Yet, the lessons live on:

1. Don't rest on your laurels. Your contributions now and in the future are what matter most.
2. Join the right team. If the people you're spending the most time with don't inspire you, find a team that does.
3. Do what you love. This is how you can unleash that motivation and get increasingly better at your craft, with the goal of achieving mastery.
4. Be competitive. Not with your competitors — although you can certainly use that as fuel — but with yourself.
5. Believe in yourself. Remember, only YOU know what you're capable of.

Thank you Tom Brady for the memories ??

Onward and upward always,

James Whittaker

#WinTheDay