Issue 022: What Does 100 Books Have to do with Football?
– Jim Tressel, President Youngstown State University
This week, like many, football is on my mind. High school, college, and professional teams have kicked off what will be an unusual season. My thoughts drift to the coaches I know, and I can only imagine the additional stress the pandemic will cause. I know each coach will have a strategy as strategies are a crucial piece to the game, which brings me to this week’s edition.
In the summer of 2018, I had the opportunity to interview former Ohio State football coach and current Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel. His goal intrigued me and the reason I wanted to interview him for Bounce-Up™. After he resigned from his coaching position, President Tressel wanted to read 100 books before he made his next career decision. What a fascinating way to bounce-up™ and not one of those books had anything to do with football.
Originally, I read his story in Buckeye Reflections: Legendary Moments from Ohio State Football authored by my friends/colleagues Jack Park and Maureen Zappala. (Okay rival teams, we’re off the field right now 😊) President Tressel taught his players core life fundamentals alongside the sport fundamentals that would be a great resource for book content.
One of the university president’s fundamental principles was having the awareness to know the difference between who you are and what you do.
“As a student-athlete,” he would tell his student players, “you play football, go to school, get good grades, and lift weights. That’s what you do. Who you are is different than what you do.”
“Who you are is really what life is all about. Who you are spiritually, morally, and ethically,” Tressel continued. “We talked about being grateful. How fortunate we are to have these opportunities. Are you grateful for opportunities on and off the field?”
He emphasized building strong relationships and how important it is to value relationships. “Having goals in relationships is part of developing who you are. Developing who you are is as important to us [coaches] as what you do on the field. Who you are is constantly being developed and evolves into what you do.”*
It’s easy to get caught up in “what we do.” When it comes to down it, our principles, actions, and attitude show who we are…and our principles show in what we do.
One last thought…President Tressel is one of the very few university presidents to hold this position without a Ph.D. He bounced-up!
Momentum Questions
What opportunities are you grateful for?
Can others recognize your core principles in your communication?
What goals can you have to build stronger personal and professional relationships?
Until next time, have a Bounce-Up™ day!
Mj
P.S. You can read President Jim Tressel’s entire story in Chapter 12, Fundamental Strength: Who You Are Is Stronger than What You Do
*Excerpted from Bounce-Up
