Had a really interesting conversation with a guy the other day. I’ll keep his name confidential, but he’s a 3x Emmy Winner and was producing a show I was working on.
He used to work at ESPN so he had spent the better part of a decade either interviewing pro athletes (MLB, NFL, NBA, etc) or around them.
We were talking about a certain athlete and his propensity to ruffle the feathers of all his competition every time he opened his mouth, and this producer had a totally unique take on the guy. What’s more, he started pulling the facade back from all my childhood heroes one by one to reveal them as complete a-holes. It was a great conversation, lol.
It’s no secret to me that many athletes are "made" by their sponsors / handlers / even the media. Michael Jordan is a great example of this. From what I’ve read and it was confirmed in this conversation, he was the biggest prima donna and hardest person on the planet to interview. Basically there were things you could ask him, and a lot more that you couldn’t. What’s more, only certain people could talk to him.
That’s probably not news to any serious sports geek, but in light of the convo we were having I started thinking about it more.
That, and the fact that mr. producer was saying that all the top athletes he’s ever worked with just have that crazy abrasive edge to them that really rubs most people the wrong way, but those guys don’t care. Even peeps you’d think were the nicest on the planet, like – wait for this – Cal Ripken Jr.
Yeah, that’s what I said too. "No way, c’mon, seriously?!" The reply: "You would be surprised…"
Well, yes.
But then again, no. Because as a student of humanity and brain typology, especially as it (brain types) pertains to athletes, I understand that it takes a certain Nature / Nurture makeup to be wildly successful in competitive sports. Or in life, actually. Nice guys finish last, and if you don’t effing like it then you better start becoming balanced and evolve your sorry nice-guy self.
I think the trick though is understanding the game. Win, and you’re useful. Entertain, and you’re useful. Make your sponsors millions (or in MJ’s case, billions) of dollars, and you’re very useful. Heck, they might even overlook you being a prick to them.
Where I think a lot of people go wrong though is with that point.
They’re prima donnas without winning. Or they have one hit and think they rule the world, not realizing (you listening, Lindsey / Britney / et al?) that they have to keep that hit machine going in order to get away with that kind of behavior.
We forgave Michael Jordan’s gambling and infidelity because he entertained us and because he won. Kobe? Poor guy…not so much. Win a championship though, and do it without Shaq, and everybody will be singing a different tune (including Shaq…he might even have some lyrics that don’t include your lips on his rump).
So I guess that’s really the bottom line of the conversation. Win, entertain, make your sponsors lots of money and get lots of publicity that sponsors can use in a positive manner, and if it takes you being a complete asshole to the competition – and maybe everyone else – then that’s what you have to do.
I guess? I don’t buy that. I think there’s a happy medium. I think you have to be very "T" (see the brain types blogs for more explanation) for sure, but there’s a difference between being blunt and logical, and just plain being an asshole.
It’s a subtle difference that not every recipient will understand. So the trick of the game is knowing your recipients. Not being fake…but being balanced.
Which in my opinion, is the goal of life anyway. The more you can be any brain type at any given time, the more successful you’ll be.
Because along the path to success you will encounter Feelers, many of them. They probably won’t be your competition (and too freaking bad for them if they are), but they will be: journalists, artists, photographers, film crew, writers, bloggers, stylists, art directors, reporters, commentators, newscasters, shoe designers, sales reps, and on and on.
While talent finds its way to the top many times regardless of how those people are treated, for all but the most talented in the world, knowing how to interact and win all those people over certainly can bode well for a career, regardless of industry.
And unless you have the global empire of Nike to help shape your image, it’s best you start creating your cult-of-personality (your personal brand!) from the ground up.
That means everybody you come in contact with.
Yes, I’m looking in the mirror as I type this…
(What, are you surprised I have a mirror I can look at while I’m online? Does it bother you that I like to look at myself? ;-) lol)