I found myself enrapt in the Indiana/Oregon game last week, so much so that after one of the Hoosiers’ several touchdowns, I turned to my wife amid the endzone celebration and said, “That’s the joy that comes from doing something really, really well.”
It dawned on me immediately that this fact had implications that resonated well beyond the gridiron. Indeed, my mind went back to a book I read not long ago by Jim Collins, widely regarded as the best book on management in its field, titled “Good to Great.” One of the book's key points is something Collins calls “Clock Building, Not Time Telling.” According to the author, this concept is about building “an organization that can endure and adapt through multiple generations of leaders and multiple product life cycles; the exact opposite of being built around a single great leader or a single great idea.” Put another way, the important thing is the work itself…not the praise and accolades it may bring.
The concept stood out to me because it seemed to fit the old Nick Saban “Process” theory: focusing not on the scoreboard, but on playing every play as though the player were being judged by it alone, rather than by the outcome of the game. In other words, the outcome of the game will take care of itself if one can only discipline themselves to play each play the best that they can.
As most people know by now, Curt Cignetti, Indiana’s head coach, is a former Nick Saban assistant, and seems to have made his former boss’ approach something of his own.
Cignetti himself has said: "From the first play to the last play…one play at a time…six seconds of play…every play has a life and history of its own…like it’s nothing/nothing…not affected by success, not affected by failure…playing to a standard, not the circumstances of the game…"
As I said, seeing the Indiana celebration and knowing what I know about the team, as well as my own studies and experience as an Alabama fan, caused me to ponder these theories regarding success, until I finally turned to Rose and said, “I have my own history with these kinds of principles.”
“Is that true?” she said.
“It is,” I told her.
“Then by all means, proceed,” said my wife.
I didn’t want to stop the game, but she insisted, so we made a compromise and merely turned the volume down. I began:
“You remember how I used to be consumed about publishing my writing?” I said.
She nodded. “Sure,” said Rose. “How could I forget that?”
“Well,” I went on, “what you don’t know is that, somewhere amid all that obsession, it dawned on me as clearly as if Iris herself had winged down from heaven with a very message from the Almighty, that I should stop worrying about this.”
“Is that true?” said Rose. She leaned back and crossed her arms.
“Yes, it is.”
“And why did God want you to stop worrying about it?” she said.
“Because He communicated to me in that instance that it was the work itself that I should be enjoying, since not a lot of people are able to do it—whether because they lack the time, desire, ability, or other reasons—and that, one day, I won’t be able to do it, either. So, ever since then, I’ve tried to enjoy the work strictly for it alone, to recognize that writing is a privilege, much like the gift of life itself…”
Everything I told her was true. I still write fiction—am studying it to perfect my technique—and I have novels and stories now to send out, but for some reason I have put off trying to get them published, though one day I will. I truly believe that.
I wasn’t able to tell Rose this last part, though, for when I looked back, she was looking at the television.
“Indiana scored again,” she said.
Evidently, she’d gotten the message of not worrying about publishing better than I did.
Along with his father, Allen Keller runs a lumber business in Stevenson, Alabama. He has a Ph.D. in Creative Writing from Florida State University and an MBA from University of Virginia. He can be reached for comment at [email protected].
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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