-Vince Lombardi: Hall of Fame coach – Green Bay Packers
After years of being on the losing end of the scoreboard, the Packers brought in a new coach to turn things around. Vince Lombardi did just that with the simplest of methods: going back to the basics. Every year when training camp began, legend has it that he gave the following talk to ALL of the players:
“Everybody stop and gather around,” he said. Then he knelt down, picked up the pigskin, and said, “Let’s start at the beginning. This is a football. These are the yard markers. I’m the coach. You are the players.”
No matter how you cut it, to get into professional football, you have to be great – world class. Still, Coach Lombardi felt it was necessary to go all the way back to the beginning of their football lives and make sure they were all on the same page.
Every now and then, we all need to go back to the basics. I am starting a series to help you along the way. Most of these things would cause groans and moans of boredom in a business meeting or family conference, but your life will assuredly benefit from knowing the basics.
This series starts off with:
The Golden Rule.
Aside from being the teaching of virtually every religion and culture on the planet, it is a fundamental moral fiber within us all. Yet it is easily forgotten or brazenly ignored. Even with this idea, I feel the need to explain what the idea of the “ethic of reciprocity” is not about.
The Golden Rule is not:
- Non-agression – There are those who think that they can do whatever they want as long as they don’t harm anyone.
- Eye for an eye – Often confused with an excuse for revenge, the one receiving the harm must still abide by the rule, except for circumstances that require force or retribution, but not revenge.
- An actual “rule” – If this was a rule, then those who experience abnormal feelings or practice a lifestyle that is against the norm would not be adhering to the spirit of the principle (masochists, for example).
How do you practice The Golden Rule?
In my mind the Golden Rule is giving of self to others with no expectation of getting something back.
In my mind the Golden Rule is giving of self to others with no expectation of getting something back.
Hi Robyn,
That is a great way to be. The world would be a better place if everyone had that mindset.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Robyn,
That is a great way to be. The world would be a better place if everyone had that mindset.
Thanks for stopping by.