Time to Listen

Stoic Quote of the Week

We?have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. -Epictetus

What I learned this week:

Last weekend was my annual trek to the HSBC Rugby 7s tournament in LA, delayed six months because of the ‘rona. As has been for the last ten years, a group of us met up, watched rugby all weekend, and caught up on life. It was great to sit back, watch, and truly enjoy the performance of these rugby players who are at the top of their game. I had the opportunity to reconnect with some folks I hadn’t seen in a while and learn about what was going on in their lives. One thing I noticed through all the conversations was how quickly we all wanted to tell our side of our story. Each conversation would start with, how’s the family, business, or something else? Then about one or two sentences in that person’s answer, the subject would change because something the other person said triggered something in their or my mind, and off we went down a rabbit hole, never to return to the true question, “How are you doing?” I’m not sure if it was the energy of the event, 7s rugby is fast-paced, and the fans are all about having fun. Or was it that I/we, the ones asking the questions, weren’t truly interested in learning what was going on in that person’s life? I did it just as much as the other people I talked with. We sometimes feel such a need to say something that we aren’t willing to stop and listen. Proverbs 25:11-12 says – God gave us two ears and one mouth. Epictetus said the same thing. If God and the Stoics say we should listen more than we talk, maybe we should listen to them and listen more. You never know what you might hear when you stop and listen; truly listen to what the person is saying.

Planning thought of the week:

As leaders, we must listen to our team and truly hear whether or not they understand. As a rugby coach, I used to ask, “Any questions?” Of course, they weren’t. Those high schoolers weren’t going to ask me a question and look dumb in front of their teammates and the coaches. I learned a new technique. I asked them questions about the drill or skill. I had them re-explain it back to me. In the Green Berets, we called it the brief back. We would orally present our plan to the commander, which demonstrated our understanding of the plan and what the outcomes were expected.

Business idea I heard about or thought of:

Storage facilities and RV parking lots are popping up everywhere! Likely because we live in the philosophy that he who has the most toys when they die wins. I don’t see that ending anytime soon, which means there is an opportunity. That’s not the idea. My idea is to create an RV storage lot with covering; you know, carport like. The difference is that the covers will have solar panels on them. This will, at a minimum, create a net zero cost to operate. If you live in Colorado or another area with lots of sun, I can see creating enough energy each day to sell back to the utility company. And, bonus, you get labeled as a green business, and there are tax breaks and other incentives that come along with that.

Veteran opportunity of the week:

Check out VETSports. A nonprofit organization that is helping veterans adjust to civilian life through sports. A friend of mine had this idea several years ago that never quite took off in rugby. It is great to see that it is taking off in other sports. Learn more here.

Someone I met this week:

I met Cody several years ago while he was playing high school rugby. I’ve followed his career since he decided to put his heart into the game and chase his dream of being a professional athlete and Olympian. He did it; he was in the Olympics in Tokyo and played professionally as a member of the USA Eagles 7s team. I’ve seen him play several times, leading with his heart on the pitch. He is not the best athlete on the pitch and not the best rugby player, but he is the one that works and will outwork everyone else on the pitch. Last year, his dream was put on hold and could have been over with a major knee injury. That shut him down from the game but didn’t stop him. Cody committed to getting back on the pitch. He put in the work, pre-surgery, post-surgery, and then the hard work to earn a spot again on the team. He did it, and last weekend in Los Angles, Cody pulled on the USA Eagles jersey again and got to represent the USA. Great work, Cody! Check him out on all SM platforms. Here is his wiki page, Cody Melphy.

Please follow us on LinkedIn and, Facebook, Tribe + Purpose. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Link to current The Cam & Otis Show podcast episode, EP 191 Focus is a Superpower-Jonathan JR Rivera-The Podcast Factory.

Thank you for your support.

PS: If you enjoy this email, please share it with others.