Jim Derry

Let me tell you a story about two quarterbacks: Tom Brady and Drew Brees. These are two men that I had the privilege of playing alongside. Both were mental monsters. Nearly identical in how they processed the game. But they led men completely differently. Brady would grab you by the throat. If you messed up around him, you got scared. Fast. He was going to let you know. But then came the massive encouragement. The ‘follow me.’ And life got breathed into you. Brees was the constant encourager. No chokehold. Just relentless belief in the men around him. Two different ways to lead. Both built championship teams. Which one is more effective? I don’t know. But here’s what they had in common: They studied like heart surgeons with a man’s life in their hands. They sacrificed personal stats when the team needed a run instead of a pass. They prepared Monday through Saturday so they could dominate on Sunday. The style matters less than the sacrifice. Most men want to lead. Few are willing to pay the price preparation demands. What about you?