Joy Turns to Sorrow

Twenty-four hours ago, I watched the end of the rally at Kansas City’s Union Station that celebrated the Kansas City Chiefs come-from-behind victory in the Super Bowl. In case you happen to be one of the handful who did not watch that game this past Sunday, the victory was the Chiefs’ second championship in as many years. And the Super Bowl telecast was the most watched television program ever in the U.S.—or, at least since the moon landing in 1969. 

Yesterday was a glorious, sun-splashed day in Kansas City—a day filled with joy and excitement and appreciation for what this NFL franchise has achieved.

In a matter of seconds, that joy turned into tragedy. Three men with firearms of various types opened fire near the Union Station parking garage in what has been called a “dispute” by the Kansas City, MO Police Department. That “dispute” has killed one and injured 22 more. (Of those 22 victims, at least half are under the age of 16.)

When I learned about this shooting, I immediately turned the TV back on and watched in horror at the aftermath. Fans running; children being comforted; police taking positions around the perimeter, including on the roof of the nearby Westin Crown Center Hotel; a local network affiliate mistakenly replaying the shooting video without acknowledging that this was taped content (and thus causing new panic); and on and on.

 

It's been 24 hours since and I still have difficulty in coalescing my thoughts and feelings into a cogent response to the question I’ve received from many--“how are you doing?” 

 

With that as caveat, here is how I think I’m doing in as organized a fashion as I can provide.

 

Children

 

My daughter, son-in-law, and two oldest grandchildren attended the Chiefs’ celebration parade yesterday. Thankfully, they chose to not attend the rally. Yet, they were within a mile of being in harm’s way, and the shock and impact of what they did experience, through proximity and its aftermath, are hard if not impossible to measure.

 

My granddaughter is now having dinner table conversation with her parents about guns and gun violence. My grandson is shocked that the event happened at his beloved Union Station—the place where he goes for Science City and Bricktionary (LEGO.)

 

How does one even begin to understand how best to talk to these children about this event? How do we talk to kids without instilling a fear so deep that they never want to leave their home? Keep in mind that our children and grandchildren participate in active shooter drills at their schools on a regular basis. They now have been impacted by an active shooter situation at one of their favorite destinations in our city--at an event meant to celebrate their favorite team and their heroes named Kelce and Mahomes and Pacheco and Jones.

Elected Officials

 

I am angry. And my anger is with elected officials and those in power who CAN do something about reducing gun violence in our country.

 

This is not going to turn into a screed about taking away guns. Rather, my ire is that we have people in positions of power who turn a blind eye to the violence and the reality that guns are the number one cause of child deaths in the U.S. Let me say that again—guns cause more deaths among children in our country than anything else. (Source: Forbes, October 2023)

 

That fact, alone, makes Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s actions reprehensible. Yes, there are many, many others who carry blame for the prevalence of guns in our society but let’s focus on Parson given his proximity to the Valentine’s Day tragedy at Union Station. 

 

Parson was in attendance at the rally, Parson spoke (and was booed) at the rally, and Parson ran when gunfire erupted at the rally. Yet, in his press briefing of today, the governor used words and phrases, which blamed “criminals and thugs.” He went on to say “…thugs out there, just killing people at an incident like that and attempting to kill all those people and created such chaos that people got hurt, being trampled. I hope that prosecutors and judges and everybody understands how serious this is.”

 

Not once did Parson use the word “gun;” not once did he acknowledge that there were three people in custody, all of whom had firearms. He did not acknowledge a rapid-fire weapon taken from one of the three in custody. And, for those keeping score at home, Parson’s state of Missouri ranks 38^th in terms of gun law strength due to the legislation he has championed. (Source: Everytown for Gun Safety)

 

Shame on you, Mike Parson—shame on you.

 

Kansas City…and violence

 

I am upset with myself because when mass shootings have happened elsewhere, I have defaulted to a belief that it’s unlikely to happen here—“here” being Kansas City. This city—so caring, so conscientious, so…nice. 

 

Yet, the signs have been there and I’ve turned my own blind eye to them. 

 

Kansas City, MO police data shows that there were 182 killings in 2023, 12 more than in 2022 and three more than the all-time high of 179 in 2020. Mayor Quinton Lucas posted last month on X, formerly known as Twitter, that some crime trends “have gone in the right direction, as nonfatal shootings are down this year compared to last, while others, like homicides, have reached new highs. We are working collaboratively to build a safer city in 2024.”

 

The well-known Country Club Plaza shopping district in Kansas City has struggled with youth violence in recent years. And, Kansas City’s Westport area – full of restaurant and night life options – has similarly had challenges related to late night incidents and how best to make the area safe and secure.

 

In sum, guns and violence are not new to Kansas City. It’s not a problem being ignored by the mayor’s office or the Kansas City, MO Police Department. Yet, it’s not a problem that is getting better, based on the data.

 

Kansas City…and its reputation

 

Yesterday, Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said, “This is an incredible moment for Kansas City. All over the world, they know about this amazing place. Never in our history have we had so many eyes on Kansas City, and so many people talking about this town.”

 

Those words, so true in the context in which they were delivered, were spoken literally minutes before gunfire erupted. The bullets and resulting carnage dramatically changed the meaning and context of Hunt’s remarks. 

 

I am proud of my city. This city, and this region, have been on a roll since we exited the worst of the pandemic—the announcement that we are a host city for World Cup 2026; that the Conference of Mayors will be here this year; that our brand spanking new airport is a hit; that our current street car is expanding south on Main; and that our World Champion Chiefs are now looking to be the first NFL team ever to three-peat as Super Bowl champions.

 

That momentum has been altered and I think I speak for other Kansas Citians in acknowledging the resulting frustration. The senseless acts of three have shifted the destiny of this city. Will that shift be permanent? Or will we pick ourselves up and carry on in order to get back on the path to greatness?

 

I believe that there is such a thing as “Kansas City Strong.” The heart with “KC” in the middle is the brand identity of our metropolitan area. We live in the heart of America; we are the heart of America. The heart is a fitting symbol for who we are.

 

Yet, it would be mistake and a disservice to those impacted yesterday to pick up and move on without the Union Station tragedy becoming the impetus for real change.

 

With that as challenge, I provide the following organizations to consider—for involvement, for donations, for support.

 

I also provide the following information for those who believe, like me, that it’s way past time to personally reach out to elected officials in order to say “Stop the Fucking Madness.” 

 

Yes, I used the “F” word because it is fucking madness. This. Has. Got. To. Stop. The lives of our children and grandchildren are at stake. Is there anything more important than that!?

 

Get involved. Do something. Please…

 

#KCStrong

 

 

Organizations:

 

https://www.bradyunited.org

 

https://www.sandyhookpromise.org

 

https://www.preventioninstitute.org/focus-areas/preventing-violence-and-reducing-injury/preventing-violence-advocacy

 

 

Elected officials (partial list):

 

Governor Mike Parson – Missouri

https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us

 

Governor Laura Kelly – Kansas

https://governor.kansas.gov/contact/

 

Senator Josh Hawley – Missouri

https://www.hawley.senate.gov/contact-senator-hawley

 

Senator Eric Schmitt – Missouri 

https://www.schmitt.senate.gov/contact/

 

Senator Roger Marshall – Kansas

https://www.marshall.senate.gov/contact/

 

Senator Jerry Moran – Kansas

https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-info

Bill, Nick and Pete

Bill, Nick and Pete.

Three solid names. Three names synonymous with football, as they belong to Bill Belichick, Nick Saban and Pete Carroll. Three leaders. Three winners. Three men gone from football - at least for now - in a 24-hour period earlier this week.

Most if not all of you now know the story--the resignation of Nick Saban at Alabama, he of seven college football national championships; Bill Belichick's "moving on" resignation, leaving New England after winning six Super Bowls for that franchise; and Pete Carroll, "evolved" from head coach to the front office at Seattle and the only coach to have won both a college football national championship (twice at USC) and an NFL Super Bowl (with the Seahawks.)

The symmetry here is eerie, not only given their success but because of the connections between the three. Saban and Belichick are very close friends (see The Art of Coaching documentary by HBO), Saban took over for Carroll as assistant coach at Ohio State (1980), Saban and Belichick coached together with the Cleveland Browns, Belichick became head coach at New England after that team had fired...(wait for it)...Pete Carroll. All three are descendants of Croatian immigrants. Saban and Carroll are 72 and Belichick is 71. 

Football, and thus coaching football, is a very black-and-white. You win, you lose. (Ties are rarely an option given overtime rules in both the NFL and the college game.) And these three men won a lot of titles and a lot of games. They won with different styles of leadership and coaching, and with different personalities. 

Three coaches intertwined throughout their careers but, most of all, through their on-field success.

Football, and sports, lost three men who made an indelible impact on their craft. And, while the timing is eerie, it seems very fitting that they all did it together.

"Are They Smart?"

 I had a work colleague years ago - lets all him "Bill" - who would always ask me "Is she (or he) smart?" when I talked about interviewing and potentially hiring a new member for our team. There was never any other question - only the query about the person's smarts. 

What I found irritating about this was the lack of definition as to what constituted "smart" in the mind of Bill. And why the infatuation with the candidate's IQ when there was so much more to consider related to their candidacy?

I lost touch with Bill but his question has stuck with me these many years. Every time I think about it, I feel the same feelings of irritation and impatience. 

What are the key things that you want to know when considering candidates for an open position? For me, the biggest driver is the fit with the team. Does their prowess fill a gap on the team and/or provide a complement to another team member's talents?

I also look for a sustained record of results that meet and, hopefully, exceed prior work expectations. Is the candidate proven in their ability to succeed? Have they succeeded in a variety of work environments? Do they have proven success in other endeavors in their life?

Finally - and this is very much an intangible - are they someone that you want to work with? Do they challenge convention? Do they make the team better? Are they fun to be around? Do they motivate me and other team members through the way they think and act and achieve?

Yes, "are they smart?" is an important question. It just isn't the question. 

How the Best Sport Ever Translates to Business

March.

The name of the month alone immediately sparks the associated word of "Madness" for millions of fans and non-fans alike in the U.S.

Every March during the Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments, rabid fans become even more anxious, casual fans become involved ones, and those who profess to know little about the sport begin studying the vagaries of a tournament five seed matchup with a 12 seed. Each year, over 70 million people fill out a March Madness bracket, attempting to correctly pick winners-and-losers in the 68-team field.

The game that engenders this behavior is college basketball. And while it's not the most popular sport in the U.S. - in viewership or participation - it is the game that holds our rapt attention over three weeks in mid-March through early April.

For me, it's three weeks that run the emotional gamut of joy to nervousness to exultation to crushing disappointment. My team is the Kansas Jayhawks and my month of March revolves around when they play in the tournament, who they play against and the outcome of this win-or-go-home tournament format.

The allure of this month runs much deeper than erratic fan behavior--it also showcases the game that I believe is the best in all of sports. Five teammates on the floor at one time, all with roles to play but all with the skill to dribble, cut, pass, block, rebound and, of course, shoot. There are also the hustle plays--helping on defense, diving for a loose ball, screening a defender so that a teammate can score. Then there are the bench players--those who may play only a couple of minutes in a game but whose contributions, during those few minutes, can swing a close contest one way or the other. These bench players are also the ones who practice every day, cheer on their teammates who are on the floor during a game and whose support and buy-in are crucial to a culture of winning.

Basketball is the ultimate team sport. Everyone has a role yet everyone must display the requisite skills mentioned in the prior paragraph. It's a game where everyone is expected to defend and move and assist. While some do these things better than others, everyone is expected to contribute across all facets of the game.

If this description sounds familiar, it's because basketball is - I believe - a metaphor for how we conduct business. We are part of a team and while each member of the team has a specific role and/or task, there typically is an expectation of one's ability to do more and/or to be supportive of others on the team so that the team may "score the ball" (to borrow a well-used broadcast announcing term.)

Just like moving without the ball is an important part of basketball, so too is the ability to observe and anticipate issues in the workplace.

It's no coincidence that some of the best basketball coaches ever in the collegiate game have had their coaching philosophies adopted by businesses and organizations.

John Wooden, who won 10 national championships at UCLA, had a Pyramid of Success for his team that's been featured on Showtime's Billions. His coaching sayings (e.g., "It's amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit") have found their way into the workplace. Mike Krzyzewski, the soon-to-retire coach at Duke and lauded as the greatest ever, has written four books on leadership and has the Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics at Duke.

Basketball - a game invented by a Canadian doctor on an American college campus - has evolved. Players are faster, stronger and more athletic; coaches use data and analytics to prepare a game plan and assess their own team. 

This evolution of the game has not changed that, at its core, basketball is still a game played by a team, all of whom must have skill across a variety of disciplines, who must practice, and who must buy in to what can be achieved together versus as individuals. Ultimately, it's a game where supporting teammates and staff creates success, which leads to the pursuit of the ultimate prize--a national championship.

Enjoy these final two weeks of March Madness. When watching the games, consider how much this team sport mirrors what each of us does with our teams in the workplace.

Taking the Ball Out of Mahomes' Hands

 I find it interesting how many Kansas City Chiefs fans and others are griping about "taking the ball out of Patrick Mahomes' hands" at the end of the Chiefs' loss last night. Let's not let the facts and game situation get in the way of this argument, shall we?

3:14 to play, ball at KC 25: Mahomes passes to Byron Pringle for 23 yards. The ball is at the Baltimore 48. In one pass, the Chiefs have already moved the ball to midfield with more than two minutes left to play. And, keep in mind that the Chiefs' defense had not truly stopped the Ravens all night--that the Ravens stopped themselves with their two turnovers earlier in the game.

2:35 to play, ball at KC 48: Mahomes passes to Travis Kelce for 13 yards. At Baltimore 39 at the two-minute warning. So, the Chiefs are in long field goal range already at the 2:00 mark, meaning that they are in serious danger of scoring too quickly and thus giving the ball back to Baltimore, who has one timeout left.

2:00 to play, ball at Baltimore 39: Mahomes hits Kelce for seven yard gain, putting the ball at the Baltimore 32 yard line. Now the Chiefs are in range for Harrison Butker and a winning field goal.

1:25 to play, ball at Baltimore 32: Mahomes hands off to Clyde Edwards-Helaire who fumbles. Baltimore recovers. The replay shows that Edwards-Helaire never did get the ball tucked away. However, is that "taking the ball out of Mahomes' hands" or is it the prudent play call, given the desire to position for a winning FG while keeping the ball away from Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' offense?

In sum, the call was the right one--the handoff between quarterback and running back wasn't executed properly and, once again, we see the tight margin between winning, and losing, in the National Football League.

Where Were You?

 The headline on my digital news feed this morning read, "Where were you on that fateful day?" I immediately thought of Alan Jackson's song, written days after 9/11/01, with the lyrics "Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?"

Who among us doesn't remember where we were at on the morning of September 11, 2001, when the twin towers in New York went down and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. was in flames? As Jackson's lyrics say, "Were you in the yard with your wife and children or on some stage in L.A.? Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke risin' against that blue sky? Did you shout out in anger in fear for your neighbor? Or did you just sit down and cry?"

The memories of that day for me - and I'm sure for most - are still as vivid as they were a short time after the tragedy of 9/11.

I was working at Sprint on that Tuesday and, like most mornings, was in the office early attending to what I needed to accomplish before the meetings and various demands of that day began. A colleague on my team - another consistent early-to-work person - came in and said "Turn on your TV--I heard that a plane flew into a building in New York." I immediately thought that a small plane must have somehow veered off course and crashed.

I turned on my TV and she and I looked on at a scene of smoke billowing out of the north tower of the World Trade Center. I remember that my immediate reaction was "What the...!?" It was hard to determine what had happened and the news commentary we listened to was equally unsure. 

We stood in my office, watching, and soon others joined as word spread that something was amiss in New York. My office was filled with co-workers--all eyes focused on that TV and the story that was unfolding. All eyes watched as a second plane flew into the south tower and the commentary, both on TV and in my office, shifted to one of shock and terror.

The world forever changed on that day. Now, 20 years later, we once again reflect on that fateful day--of lives lost, of stories of courage, of the forever impact on all of us.

Much has and will be written, said and reported on today, tomorrow and this weekend as the reliving of 9/11 is played out across all media. My suggestion to you is that this be a time to sit, reflect and never forget the lives lost and the forever impact of that act of terrorism. 

"The World's Greatest Metronome"

 The death on Tuesday of Charlie Watts, drummer for The Rolling Stones, has made me reflect on his life and the steady leadership that he provided to the "world's greatest rock-and-roll band." 

Watts joined the Stones in 1963 and never missed a concert during that timespan of numerous tours, albums and appearances. News of his death caused a variety of tributes from fellow entertainers. The Who's lead singer, Roger Daltrey, said Watts was the "perfect gentleman, as sharp in his manner of dress as he was on the drums." And Joan Baez commented that he was "a prince among thieves" and " a gentleman through and through."

It was Questlove's (The Roots) tribute, though, that I found most interesting. 

"He's always been a solid foundational drummer. He was the anti-drummer. He wasn't performative to let you know how hard he was f----ing working. He gave you the basic foundation." 

Quest continued, "Watts became a legend not because of who he was associated with but because he's providing the foundation. Only real drummers know the value of Charlie Watts and the fact that he was the world's greatest metronome. Trust me, his 'less is more' technique is probably some of the most genius playing that you'll ever hear."

There is certainly a lesson in leadership in the way that Watts provided the foundation for a band that has been together for 58 years and which includes two enormous personalities (onstage and off) in Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. One can easily make the case that the Stones would not have been "the Stones" without the talent - and quiet leadership - of Charlie Watts. Watts' place in The Rolling Stones is a lesson for all of us in how we perform, team...and lead.