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Whose Team Do You Play On?

By Rich Christiansen - Jul 18 , 2011

Roy H. Williams, author of The Wizard of Ads, said it best (paraphrased): “The only thing more important than who you select to play on your team is, who selects you to play on their team.”

I fundamentally believe that this is the most important criterion for success, not only for life, but also for a successful business career. A favorite saying that comes to mind is, “Competence and incompetence shows its head.” It may take a day, a week, a month or a year, but sooner or later competence and incompetence will show its head.

Back when I was still in college, I worked in technical support for a start-up company named Netline. Everyone in the company was busting their guts to make this little leading-edge technology business work. Eventually we advanced to the point where we had attracted the attention of a billionaire who was coming to see if he wanted to invest in the company.

The day before he arrived, we set up a demo wall and prepared everything needed to show him the technology. At the time, I was just a peon in the organization, but as I was getting ready to leave that night, I noticed our floor had not been swept or mopped, and the place was quite frankly, pretty filthy. As a start-up, we were so focused on the technology that those small details were simply overlooked. I guess I had learned enough from my mother to feel embarrassed about having this incredibly successful businessman seeing our place looking a wreck.

I drove home and conned my wife into helping me clean the building. As it happened, everyone had left by the time we started sprucing up. The next day I didn’t feel any need to point out what we had done.

The presentation went smoothly. Our investor was impressed with the technology, and the company got the necessary funding. As we celebrated, there was a buzz about who had cleaned the building? Although I was silent, someone figured out I had played janitor and corrected the glaring oversight. As a result Alan Hall, a VP, rewarded me with promotions and opportunities, and became a lifelong friend and mentor. Netline eventually went out of business. However, Alan Hall went on to build several successful businesses and become a billionaire.

I met with Alan a few days ago to ask him to support and endorse me in my latest venture, The Zig Zag Principle. He responded by buying a significant number of my books for his employees and offering to recommend me throughout his sphere of influence. In return, I agreed to sit on the board for a couple of his companies.

By being competent and looking for ways to give and do a little extra, I was able to form a relationship that has been mutually beneficial over the years.

I play on Alan’s team. Whose team do you play on? And more importantly, what are you doing to get on the right teams?

###

Rich Christiansen has started over 33 businesses with 11 becoming multimillion-dollar successes. He has a McGraw-Hill published book The Zig Zag Principle. Rich also blogs about business.

Follow him on Facebook and Twitter, or join Rich’s next Twitter Chat Party, “What Gets You Out of Bed?” Join the discussion & win prizes @richchristianse #businesshowto Wednesday, July 20, 9pm EST.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=605605636 Kyle McNeil

Great post Rich … and it’s amazing how going the “extra mile”, is equivalent to 10 miles, b/c of how few are willing to go the extra mile.

Always love your posts.

Thanks again!

Kyle
Ali

What a great reminder! Sometimes we get caught up in all the “important” tasks we are doing and we forget about the “small things”. When in reality those small things may actually be the most important tasks we should be focusing on.
Colette

Great post! I learned over the past weekend that you should do your best and then do better. Deliver what you say you will, and then give them more! That’s how you will end up successful in the end! Thanks Rich!!
http://twitter.com/BootstrapBook/statuses/93516565131173889 BootstrapBook (Bootstrap Business)

Check out Rich at http://www.beneaththecover.com/2011/07/18/whose-team-do-you-play-on/ Great post
http://twitter.com/richchristianse/statuses/93516641844985857 richchristianse (Rich Christiansen)

Check out my post on Michael Drew’s site @ http://www.beneaththecover.com/2011/07/18/whose-team-do-you-play-on/
Andrea Reindl

Rich, I actually teared up just a bit when I read this. Thanks for sharing and knowing you personally I’ll say that I know today you would do the exact same thing you did then (well you might ask one of your boys to help you, not your wife). Now that you have been the peon and the CEO you still do what it takes and lead with service. I’m honored to know you and delighted to work with you!
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http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1120626203 Enin Serdna

I love how you’ve spun adding value to relationships in being in a team, it really speaks to me. Always glad to read your excellent post Rich.
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Whose Team Do You Play On?

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