Expectations Create the Path to Greatness…
Events from last week, during a training trip to Alabama, got me thinking about how we are connected and the power of expectations. My journey started on the Monday after the last regular season weekend of the NFL season. When flying, I tend to go for comfort over business attire. For this trip I threw on my Buffalo Bills sweatshirt. When in Buffalo, you expect to hear a “Go Bills,” or “Let’s Go Buffalo” for the hometown team. Little did I expect a similar response during a flight connection in Charlotte, landing in Pensacola or after my drive into Alabama.
As we go about our daily routines, we never know how we are connected to the people we see in other cars or pass on the street. The Bills connection only came up because I happened to be sporting my team’s colors that day. What truly made these seemingly random yells stand out were who they came from and when. As I was making my way quickly through the concourse to my connecting flight, a lady passed with her child in tow. As I passed, she caught me off guard with a “Go Bills”. I barely had time to respond as we both continued our journeys in opposite directions. Later while I was sitting, waiting to board while talking on the phone, a man wearing a Clemson shirt discretely mouthed “Go Bills” as to not disturb my call while making sure we both acknowledged our shared team spirit. This happened a couple more times while departing my final flight and even when grabbing a bite to eat in Alabama. Being able to share a common connection with others, no matter where we are from and what we look like, reminds me of how we are all truly connected in one way or another.
The Monday I arrived in Alabama, also happened to be the day of the College Football Championship against the Georgia Bulldogs. My plan was to get checked into the hotel, get some food, and enjoy the game while double checking everything for my workshop in the morning. I quickly noticed how there seemed to be very few cars on the road an hour before the game. I settled in with my sub and laptop to hopefully enjoy a very good game. I was not disappointed.
Like so many others, seeing the Tide in the playoff and championship every year can become a bit monotonous. It’s the same idea with Tom Brady, or how the Dodgers, Astros and other teams that seem to be in the mix every year. What was different this year was that Alabama lost. They didn’t just lose to anyone. They lost to a head coach who was a disciple of Nick Saban. In my roles as a parent, coach, teacher, and administrator, we always hope that those we work with grow up to achieve their goals and even surpass their mentors. Alabama had been one of the best programs over the years but had fallen on lean times before the arrival of Nick Saban. He brought a level of expectation that not only raised the bar for his players, but also for all other teams. Even though the game did not end as many expected, especially those that “Roll Tide,” there is no mistaking the impact Nick Saban has had on all of college football. The SEC is the top conference as evidenced by two teams in the final game. His former coaches have gone on to success at the college and NFL level and now one of them was able to defeat the mentor.
I’m willing to wager that each of us has experienced something similar. In High School, I did not enjoy English class at all. From 7th grade on, it seemed like we just went through the motions. Read the expected literature, do some writing, and get a grade. Day in and day out it all I heard was blah blah blah. This changed my senior year with Mr. Parker. He had high expectations for everyone. We wrote daily, learned to truly interpret literature, and had to complete a thesis in his class. If you didn’t pass his class, you weren’t graduating. While senioritis was definitely a thing, it didn’t seem to apply for ELA. What really stood out is that he never made you feel like you didn’t belong. HE was tough but as the same time kind and personable. If it wasn’t for him, there is no way I would have aced College English and improved my writing. I know many other classmates would say the same thing. Expectations matter!
In education and life, we often worry about protecting our children. We sometimes work to shield them from disappointment and failure. When we do that, we take away growth opportunities. We take away feelings of accomplishment for overcoming a momentary failure to achieve success. We lower expectations instead of providing support to meet the challenges incumbent of high expectations. Each of us can only achieve success if we are willing to challenge ourselves. The high expectations we have for ourselves also affect those around us. When we are satisfied with okay, we miss out on all that life has to offer. We miss out on being the person we are capable of being. We set an example for our children and those around us that okay is good enough when we should be working to move from okay to good, good to great, and great to excellence. That’s what Nick Saban would expect.
