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This is a great Christmas message!
WATCH Ernie Johnson’s address to the Alabama football team: “MAKE SOMEBODY’S LIFE BETTER” and “THERE IS VALUE IN EVERYBODY” in the video clip below…
#1: WORK IS A PRIVILEGE
“I’ve been at my job for 32 years. IT’S A GET TO JOB. NOT A GOT TO JOB. I GET TO DO THIS JOB.”
There is a BIG difference in the thought process of and value of WORK. WORK can be a burden or it can be thought of as a honor & privilege; something you feel you have to do OR something that you truly love to do. Something you think you are entitled to or something you are grateful for.
#2: KNOW & VALUE YOUR ROLE
The second point Ernie made in the video when he is addressing the Alabama football team about work and his TEAM is that: “NOBODY TRIES TO MAKE IT ABOUT THEMSELVES.
“We all know our roles; I know mine,” he says, “and I never try to make it about ME,” and he concludes by saying, “There is VALUE IN EVERYBODY.”
Ernie works with SUPER STARS, Shaq, Barkley, Kenny; some big egos I would imagine. BUT he stresses, WE ALL KNOW OUR ROLES, WE NEVER TRY TO MAKE IT ABOUT ME & WE VALUE EVERYBODY’s contribution.
Are you trying to figure out TEAM CHEMISTRY on a softball or baseball team?
Here is the formula. There is only one person talking at a time and a limited time for the half-time show (only so many minutes and then back to the game). Their job is to analyze the game not talk about themselves. EXECUTE THE GAME PLAN instead of worrying about your stats or playing time.
KNOW YOUR ROLE – if you are the pinch runner or the bull pen catcher, then be the best at it; a pinch runner can steal a crucial base in the key moment to win the game. The bull pen catcher can give critical feedback to the pitcher warming up and help her/him get into the right mindset so when they come into close the game, they are ready because you took pride in your responsibility and understood
THERE IS VALUE IN EVERYBODY!
CONFLICT happens on teams when “people” start MAKING IT ABOUT THEMSELVES & fail to VALUE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OTHERS.
Ernie’s wife, Cheryl, saw a story on 20/20 about Romanian orphans with special needs kids being warehoused (kind of funny she wasn’t watching Ernie on TNT huh?) and when he got home said, “Let’s go to Romania and adopt a kid”. It’s interesting to listen to Ernie’s response: “Whoa, hold on; we have two kids already; adopting a child is a big decision.”
#3: BE FLEXIBLE, FIND ROOM IN YOUR HEART TO GIVE SOMEBODY A SECOND CHANCE
Every team has rules and has this perfect scenario SCRIPTED for how everything is suppose to operate. They just follow the play book; if I do this then that happens or A plus B equals C; traditional linear thinking.
#1: Perfect scenarios NEVER happen.
#2: we are all fragile and vulnerable and “leak oil”; we know one day we are going to struggle and need somebody’s help.
That’s the real meaning of team and family – going off script when the scenario changes; being able to be flexible and make adjustments; and always finding room in our hearts to give somebody a SECOND CHANCE.
Ernie’s wife flew to Romania; the nurse who handed his wife their adopted kid, Michael, said:
Don’t take this kid, he is NO GOOD.”
Can you imagine?
He had muscular dystrophy and the diagnosis was dire: dead by the time he was a teenager. Ernie’s response: “BRING HIM HOME”!
#4: THERE IS VALUE IN EVERYONE
The last lesson COMES STRAIGHT FROM ERNIE VIA MICHAEL’S HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL COACH.
Ernie tells the story to the Alabama football team of how Michael’s high school basketball coach asked him to be on the team; according to Ernie,
“THERE IS VALUE IN EVERYONE!”
And this coach saw value in Michael being a part of their team.
First, he expected when the team members saw how hard it was and how much effort (it took everything he’s got) Michael used to make any movement, that MAXIMUM EFFORT FROM ALL would become the standard without any whining or self-pity, just gratitude.
And two, HAVING EMPATHY, A HEART FOR OTHERS.
Not sympathy but empathy.
Because you see, Michael TAUGHT THEM THE GREATEST LESSON: Michael taught the whole team, in fact the whole school, how to say I LOVE YOU and I LOVE YOU TOO in sign language.
The idea behind empathy and Michael’s deep love for his teammates was the message: “I will do anything for you”. It’s about US not ME.
“WHEN YOU STEP AWAY FROM YOUR AGENDA, TRY TO NOTICE, HOW YOU CAN MAKE SOMEBODY’S LIFE BETTER” – Ernie Johnson.
THREE SIDE NOTES:
- One of Ernie’s most significant challenges was his battle with cancer in 2003 – diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Throughout his treatment cycles, he did not miss a single night of hosting TNT. TOUGHNESS IN ACTION. His mind has “no time” to be self-absorbed with “ME”; his intrinsic purpose comes from SERVING OTHERS. That mentality comes from mental toughness and spiritual empathy.
- Ernie and his wife, Cheryl, have 3 other adopted children besides Michael; Carmen from Paraguay, and Allison & Ashley, who are adopted through foster care.
- Sadly, Michael passed away in October at the age of 33… Click HERE to read more about him in this ESPN tribute.
A HEART OF GOLD!
