A Crisis Of Leadership
- thenxt32
- Nov 9, 2016
- 2 min read
Yesterday morning I was reading an article on ESPN.com about Tom Brady. A reporter was talking to Brady about Reggie Wayne, former wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts. Brady expressed his respect for Wayne, who he referred to as a future Hall of Famer. Brady stated that he enjoyed talking to Wayne and enjoyed the brief time that they were together as teammates on the Patriots. The reporter then informed Brady that Wayne stated that Brady should not be considered as an MVP candidate given he was a cheater, referencing the Deflategate episode and Brady’s four-game suspension. Brady’s response, “I still respect Reggie and enjoyed our past conversations.” True to Tom Brady’s personality, he refused to be baited into making negative comments.
Now, you may hate the Patriots and Tom Brady; respect. Personally, I am a Patriots fan and an admirer of Brady. The reason I’m recounting the ESPN article is because of the importance of Brady’s behavior in context of this political season and the devolution of our Nation’s civility, class and integrity. It appears that during the Deflategate period, Tom Brady read and followed the teachings of a book titled The Four Agreements. Based on my quick review of the book’s synopsis, The Four Agreements lays out basic principles to live your life by. First, always do your best. Second, never assume anything. Third, never take anything personally. Fifth, be impeccable with your word. These principles resonate with me.
We need new leaders in this world! I use the exclamation point because I personally believe that this is the greatest challenge we are facing as a society. We need people who are committed to listening, understanding, building shared meaning, and inciting consensus for important changes in a fundamentally changing world. We need to quiet the talking heads and their dogma, and embrace the listeners and their desire for civility and understanding. Maybe The Four Agreements offers a foundation for building a new movement to extricate us from the stench that has enveloped politics, media and our Nation’s institutions. This movement starts with each and every one of us. I’m prepared for the challenge, are you?
Comments