Talent Gets You Access To The Game…Attitudes Separates The
Great From The Good...
Bob Marsh, Sales Playbook
Bob Marsh, Sales Playbook
We all have witnessed that explosive wide receiver who can
outrun any defensive back or the defensive lineman who can push through a
double team, and get in the backfield before the quarterback has a chance to
drop back…What about the quarterback who stands 6’5” in the pocket and has a
rifle for an arm…Come draft day in the NFL, scouts, coaches, and general
managers get together looking for the players with the best talent, who can run
the 60 the fastest, who can bench press the most. I think it’s safe to
say that in the NFL, and probably most professional sports, head coaches live
by the motto Talent Trumps Attitude. Have you ever heard a top draft
pick in any league selected solely because he is extremely coachable…has a
winning attitude…is highly competitive…most likely, the answer is NO.
No matter how tough the player can be to coach, how
disruptive he can be in the locker room, or how many times he shows up in the
headlines for saying something outrageous, if his skills can put points on the
board more than likely he will find a team desperate enough to welcome him with
open arms and an open wallet. But is there a steep price to pay
(that goes beyond their paycheck) that costs the team dearly in the long
run? As a coach, do you want a team filled with prima donnas, egos, and a
laundry list of reasons why they can’t practice, or would you prefer to
surround yourself with a group of players who are willing to go through walls
to get “it” done, understand that no player is bigger than the team, and give
100% on every play?
In the office, how many times have you seen a coworker strut
their stuff, boasting about their past accomplishments, holding court by the
water cooler, and pounding their chest in sales meetings, only to fall horribly
short when they are given a responsibility or asked to take the lead on a
project. The moment the individual faces a road block, they are lost. Sure, when they were first hired, everyone heard about their
tremendous upside and how their hiring is going to put the entire staff on
alert, but in the end, all you got was a lot of hot air. The individuals
that are consistently at the top of their profession are the ones sitting in front
of “the class," engaged and actively contributing to the team’s
goal. They stimulate discussion, and are willing to put their own success
aside for the betterment of the team. They
are part of the “assembly line,” coming to work every day and playing their
role in the company’s success.
Give me the player who has the raw skills and is a sponge in
practice soaking up all he can to improve his game…Show me the player who might
not have all the talent in the world, but knows how to get the job done…Get me
the teammate that will pass up the accolades and the highlight reel, instead
hinging their own success on the team’s record. Equally important, is the
effect a player with this mindset and commitment has on his teammates.
Look at many of the underdog success stories in sports, the David who slays
Goliath, certainly you will find the team filled with players who have the “never
say die” attitude and win at all costs spirit. 
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