What a great week we have in front of us. Thanksgiving week is such a special time for all of us. It’s the official kick-off to the holiday season, a shortened week of work, gratitude all around us, and of course the Thanksgiving holiday. There are so many traditions to be grateful for and so many things to look forward to.
One tradition I’ve always enjoyed is watching football on Thanksgiving day. As a kid, I remember gathering around the TV feeling full and feeling joy being with my family and the good vibes. I began to wonder why it was always Detroit and Dallas playing? Why was it always those two teams? I did some digging and this is what I found out.
Many years ago the NFL proposed to the entire league about playing games on Thanksgiving and asked for volunteers. They contacted every team and asked if anyone would be interested. Only two teams answered the call with a yes: the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys. Only those two. Could you imagine being in that board room or executive office when they kicked around the idea and the team actually said no? Do you know what playing on Thanksgiving each year has done for those franchises? The simple decision of saying yes in that situation propelled those franchises to amazing heights with the opportunity to play each year on the biggest holiday in our country.
It really was a simple question and only two teams answered the call.
Think about the power of yes:
Change: Change can be exciting. Going down a new path, trying something new, and bringing something different to your team or organization can be invigorating.
Opportunity: Saying yes can bring new opportunities to those involved.
Leading: Part of great leadership is knowing when to say no, but it also is about knowing when to say yes. Leading the way. Think about how many barriers are being broken down in the past few years: Women coaching in male-dominated sports, the first black woman on the Supreme Court, transgender rights and more. Saying yes leads the way for others.
Beginnings: Saying yes starts new beginnings and new traditions. NFL tradition is now ingrained in the Thanksgiving holiday. It feels like it’s been there forever, but the first few years it was something new, maybe something uncomfortable, and maybe something that did not gain traction right away. Now it is a mainstay because somebody somewhere said yes.
Think about these decisions the next time you are presented with the possibility of something different and something new. Have a wonderful holiday and best to you, your family and your journey. Our future is bright. Be part of it. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Quote: “You are never too small to make a difference.” —Greta Thunberg
