I would agree that people are willing to endure suffering or otherwise accept a less desirable employment situation if they work for a company with a higher purpose they believe in. I would think that's one of many factors that affect an employee's satisfaction with their job.

From the point of view of the employer, I suppose then that it's rational self-interest to espouse a higher purpose that is differentiating and resonates with its employment base.

-Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: ironlady@stagen.simplelists.com [mailto:ironlady@stagen.simplelists.com] On Behalf Of Seth Braun
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2018 5:54 PM
To: ironlady@stagen.simplelists.com
Subject: Re: Miracle - quitting after the 10th "again"

Scott,

There have been many obeservations about the context of the olympic team, but I am going to riff on this idea.
"For an amateur hockey player there is no comparable goal to being a member of that team"

This relates, I believe, one of the value propositions of Conscious Capitalism... specifically Higher Purpose.

Is it possible that people are willing to endure more suffering in a business if they feel that they are working for a Higher Purpose that motivates them?

I think many entrepreneurs are motivated by a higher purpose; to solve a problem or improve the world... in addition to making money.
And this drives them to work harder and more diligently... to face emotional devestation... to endure criticism... to persist in the face of high risk.

And I do believe that purpose-based companies have a competitive advantage for attracting talent.

I agree with John's sentiment that Herb's approach to leadership would lose efficacy over time... but I do think people are able to endure more when given an inspiring purpose.

For these players, the olympic team was a once-in-a-lifetime opportuity full of purpose and meaning.

How can we capture some of that... and use that to motivate our teams?

Seth

On 2/9/18, 7:57 AM, "ironlady@stagen.simplelists.com on behalf of Griffin, Scott" <ironlady@stagen.simplelists.com on behalf of sgriffin@redcapitalgroup.com> wrote:

    Brooks' situation was unique because there is only one Team USA. For an amateur hockey player there is no comparable goal to being a member of that team. As a result he could put them through hell and not worry about losing them. Most companies can't do the same. People would quit and work for a competitor after the 10th, "Again!"

    -Scott

    -----Original Message-----
    From: ironlady@stagen.simplelists.com [mailto:ironlady@stagen.simplelists.com] On Behalf Of Bede, Jeff
    Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2018 8:36 PM
    To: ironlady@stagen.simplelists.com
    Subject: RE: Miracle

    There were some comments this morning that seemed to suggest Herb isn't a fit for leadership today (hello millennials).  I think there's a good amount that still resonates today - clear purpose and vision, conviction of purpose (he didn't waver even when the going got tough), building trust not necessarily with himself (that came over time) but among his team, productive conflict (the potential replacement player,` calling out the goalie just before the games started and even forcing the hurt player to play), the commitment that clearly resulted, and finally the ensuing elevation of team results over the individual. You can see it often in startups, which happen to have a lot of young people.

    Initially he was autocratic (arguably he needed to be), but I also thought his leadership altered as the movie went on.  He certainly was a contrast to the Soviet coach.

    I remember that game so the movie definitely hit an emotional chord.

    Jeffrey Bede  |  Group Head  |  ORIX Growth Capital |  10900 NE 4th Street, Suite 2300  |  Bellevue, WA 98004  |  t  |  425-440-2632     c  |  202-494-1776     e  |  jeff.bede@orix.com  |  www.orix.com  |  www.orix.com/capital-solution/growth-capital/

    -----Original Message-----
    From: ironlady@stagen.simplelists.com [mailto:ironlady@stagen.simplelists.com] On Behalf Of Chang, Geoff
    Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2018 12:03 PM
    To: ironlady@stagen.simplelists.com
    Subject: Re: Miracle

    In college I read a wonderful book called The Prince by Machiavelli.  Herb Brooks was a dictator, and you could argue, akin in many respects to Machiavelli's concept of the benevolent dictator, but what if he was just a dictator instead.  As we often see today and as is the case more often than not, there are plenty of dictators calling the shots who have no one's interests at heart but their own, and who come to positions of great power and believe just as confidently as herb brooks did, in their decisions and people choices, and their teams don't always work out (see Saddam, khadafi, etc)

    I think Jordan is right in this case but I want to point two things out that her comments inspired me to think about.

    1.  I believe that post-olymipics in lake placid, the US team largely with the same players took on the Soviets several times thereafter the same year and we were slaughtered every time.  So that reminds me there is an element of luck involved.  You can do everything right but there is still an element of luck. The trick is in peaking the right time and minimizing the percentage of the outcome subject to luck.

    2.  Secondly, there is a tendency to point to people who didn't work out and that the reason they did not was their fault.  But if Stagen has taught me anything this year, it is that the first place I should look as the boss is at myself - bc maybe I was the bad "teammate" who chose my team and those who didn't work out bc I was the dictator and knew what I was doing, or maybe it was my failing as the coach or gm for failing to bring everyone on the team together - again, like what Herb Brooks did.

    My favorite part of the movie was when herb brooks kept jack Callahan on the olympic roster, despite knowing he cldnt play - so I guess in the end, he proved to be Machiavelli's Prince after all...that is, a bona fide benevolent dictator.

    On Feb 8, 2018, at 2:36 PM, Massey, Jordan (OUC) <jordan.massey@orix.com<mailto:jordan.massey@orix.com>> wrote:

    I did enjoy watching this movie again, but I'm going to challenge Stagen to find a chick flick option for movie assignments.

    One thing that I was reflecting on was Herb's comment about not looking for the best player, but for the right player.  I thought back over the years about hires that worked out well and others that didn't.  It is interesting because it seems like most of the ones that didn't work well were actually really technically excellent and would be considered "best" in that respect, but did not fit with the culture of our team. As a result, the team suffered and overall performance was impacted.

    <image005.jpg><http://www.orix.com/>

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    Jordan Massey, CPA, CIA  |  Director  |  Internal Audit ORIX USA Corporation  |  1717 Main Street, Suite 900  |  Dallas, TX 75201
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