Bottomless Pit

This isn’t a popular thing to say and maybe not even politically correct - but no matter how wealthy a business or a person is, no one is a bottomless pit of cash. And when a pandemic like Covid-19 strikes and just absolutely demolishes revenues, I see it as perfectly understandable that businesses have to find ways to cut back and survive. 

Like many sport franchises, the NHL Boston Bruins have slashed the pay for full-time staff and let go 68 employees. They’ve followed the lead of other organizations like the NBA’s Utah Jazz that asked staff to take pay cuts and let go of many other “non-essential” staff. That makes sense. No games, no fans at arenas, etc, so what work is there for them to do.

A few years ago I had the pleasure of briefly meeting CEO Ted Leonsis, the owner of the Washington Arena, NHL Stanley Cup Champions the Capitals, and the NBA Wizards. His two major league sport franchises and the stadium he owns has basically all dropped to zero revenue, can you imagine the pressure he’s under? 

Today, Leonsis announced that all full-time and all 850 part-time staff would continue to get paid. Wow. That means all those amazing folks that work as part-time ticket takers, cleaners, ushers etc. will continue to get a pay cheque. 

What I’m trying to express is this: A crisis is brilliant in revealing people’s character. 

It’s easy to look good when it the ocean is calm but how do people react when the typhoon hits? That’s when you’ll figure out if the smooth talking, rich, emperor’s son is who you want on the Captain’s bridge or the seasoned General who considers the typhoon as a challenging big rainy day. 

This pandemic demands business decisions that are absent of emotion, bold, and geared for survival - absolutely. But it also demands compassion. How you chose to treat other people, when it’s very difficult to treat people well…well, it matters. That’s a legacy.

My guess is Leonsis now has a team that is ready to walk through fire for him - forever. He’s created a legacy of incredible leadership that is probably even greater than his Championship team.  And now he’s made an entire nation of new fans, I know he made one of me.