Lessons from #Dak

“I want to go where I'm the difference. I want to make something out of nothing. I want to be the reason someone is great.” ~ Dak Prescott

Have you ever met someone and came away from the interaction totally surprised – in a really positive way?

I recently participated in the annual REVOLUTION Conference in Dallas. This year, over 2,000 third party dealers who sell AT&T’s video, mobility and internet services gathered to connect with our leaders and teams who covered a range of topics including strategy, growth investments, support and winning partnerships. 

During our last breakout session, I had an opportunity to conduct a fireside chat with a "special, surprise” guest, which elicited significant delight from the audience when revealed: Dak Prescott. For those of you who do not recognize his name, here’s a brief bio:

“Dak Prescott is the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. He was drafted in the fourth round to the Cowboys in the 2016 NFL Draft from Mississippi State University. Intended to back up Pro-Bowler Tony Romo, Prescott stepped into the leading role his rookie season when Romo was injured in a preseason game. He started all 16 games of the regular season for the Cowboys. In Week 6 of the 2016 season, Prescott, with 176 attempts, broke the record for most consecutive pass attempts without an interception to start a career; a record previously held by Tom Brady at 162 attempts in 2000-2001. Prescott won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and was ranked 14th by his NFL peers on the NFL Top 100 players of 2017.”

What a unique experience to spend time with him and engage in a discussion in front of our 800 business dealers. I was so impressed with this young man! Rather than wax poetic about his football career and accomplishments (which I’m actually incapable of doing), I thought I’d share my top six takeaways:

1. Character and values are at the core of who we are. The day prior, a colleague of mine conducted a fireside chat with Troy Aikman. Dak’s name came up and Troy's comment was something like this… “I don’t worry about Dak at all. He’s a fine young man.” Well, after a discussion with Dak, the audience agreed as well. Numerous people approached me and said that, while they might not be fans of the Cowboys, they’re now fans of Dak. He was that impressive and grounded in what’s really important in life.
2. Grace and wisdom have no age.  Those who did not know his age prior were surprised to learn that he is a mere 24 years old. His poise, professionalism and overall outlook on life revealed a maturity and perspective far beyond his years.
3. Education is foundational for success and is a key differentiator to enable that success. Unlike many kids/young adults who turn pro, Dak finished his degree first. Make that two degrees. He holds a Bachelor’s in Educational Psychology and a Master’s in Workforce Leadership. And, yes, he wants to go on to earn his PhD (“Dr. Dak”). He affirmed that his education has helped him with his leadership skills and to more effectively relate to people.
4. Opportunity is not something you’re entitled to; but when it happens, embrace it fully – and don’t take it for granted. I was struck by his humility throughout the conversation. His view of the opportunities which he has been given is more one of serendipity vs. science. Although, for sure, one must always be prepared in case opportunity strikes, it’s not something that you can fully plan for…but, for sure, it’s something that you can totally embrace and run with (pun intended).
5. Leadership is not about you, it’s about those around you. No question, this young man is a servant leader. The quote above characterizes his outlook perfectly. He views that his role, on and off the field, is to help others be their best selves. He emphasized how important it is to root for everyone and to help them be as successful as they can be.
6. Be inspired and be inspiring. Dak’s mother passed away from cancer while he was still in college. She was, and still is, an inspiration to him and his two brothers. Their family motto is Fight. Faith. Finish. Each “F” given to one of the brothers by their mom. Dak is “Faith.” His mom continues to be his inspiration – and there’s no question, this young man has great faith in himself as well as his mission to help others, whether he’s championing and helping our youth, fighting for a cure for cancer, or as he cites in the quote above, wanting to be why someone is great.

Have you had a meeting with someone where you were unexpectedly surprised by them and the insights you gained? Perhaps it was someone who you may have had a preconceived notion about, but when you started talking, the conversation was nothing like what you thought it was going to be? This is just one more enriching facet of the beauty of relationships and of connecting with people more deeply. Do you agree?