I was running today (often a time when I have the free time to think) and was pondering what creates inspiration and drive. Mark Knopfler was singing "Boom Like That," an ode to Ray Kroc, sort of. Ray of course was the founder of McDonald's, a company I worked with for several years. To say he's achieved mythic status as the progenitor of fast food is an understatement. In the song, Knopfler characterizes the flash of insight that lead to the formation of the company:
and then i get it, wham
as clear as day
my pulse begins to hammer
and i hear a voice say:
these boys have
got this down
oughtta be a one of these
in every town
And from that flash....would've come nothing. But Ray was FOCUSED and driven and wouldn't quit and the results are everywhere today.
Same with Bill Gates and Paul Allen -- they had the idea, but more importantly, they had the focus to keep pushing when other people doubted/said stop, said not there. And lucky for me, I've had a chance to learn about focus and persistence in the software world as well as the world of fast food.
Finally, we're nearing football season. It's like there's a light starting to shine -- soon we'll be out of the sports doldrums and back to gridiron glory, both collegiate and professional. Last November I read the following piece by Gregg Easterbrook:
Great runners keep their eyes on the prize
By Gregg Easterbrook
Special to Page 2
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Once, in Silicon Valley, I heard Joe Costello -- a founding light of "electronic design automation" and now CEO of the lowercase think3 -- give a talk about the difference between seeking success and avoiding failure. Studies of crashes during aircraft landings under difficult circumstances, he said, showed that pilots who made bad mistakes when approaching an airfield and crashed, but lived to tell the tale, reported that they had been focused on avoiding obstacles. Pilots who made difficult landings without incident reported they had focused solely on the runway. Business and artistic success, Costello continued, follow the same pattern. Setbacks result from constantly trying to avoid obstacles, worrying about what might go wrong. Achievement results from keeping your eyes glued to the prize and endlessly repeating to yourself, "I can do this." Or, as I once wrote, "Keep your gaze in the distance, and though you will stumble, you will reach your destination."
These thoughts came to mind when Tiki Barber said on NBC's "Football Night in the Known Universe," or whatever its formal name is, that rookie Adrian Peterson of Minnesota keeps his eyes straight ahead, looking only down the field, ignoring tacklers. Watch tailbacks: Most are darting their heads from side to side trying to figure out where problems are. Peterson says he is always looking at the goal line and driving his legs, ignoring tacklers. His runs have this quality: maximum power toward the goal line, pay no attention to the obstacles. The great Walter Payton once said he could never remember the numbers of those who hit or missed him because he was looking down the field and the rest was a blur. (That's a paraphrase.) Peterson seems to have this same success-focused running style, plus he's bigger and faster than Payton was.
And promptly sent it to clients as a reminder of the value of focus, on goals and on keeping the legs driving even when you are falling down.
Today was a good running day. 6.3 miles, the first five at about a 7:15 pace, the last a cool down. It helped that along the way I was counseled by Bill Gates, Ray Kroc and Adrian Peterson. Eyes on the prize, indeed.