I begin my first post a day after Super Bowl XLVIII, where the Denver Broncos, led by quarterback legend Peyton Manning, suffered a crippling loss against the Seattle Seahawks. For Manning, a victory last night would have meant a great deal. Just two years ago, he underwent several serious neck surgeries that, if unsuccessful, could have ended his career. When he returned to the NFL the following season, most said he could never be the player he was prior to the surgeries. Reigning sentiment was that Manning was washed up and should have walked away from the game. He was released by the Indianapolis Colts, the team he led to Super Bowl victory in 2006 and with whom he passionately hoped to spend the remainder of his playing years.
Heartbroken yet determined, Manning joined the Denver Broncos. In only two seasons, he surpassed league passing and touchdown records and once again returned to the Super Bowl, having shown the skeptics how greatly they underestimated his skill, his passion, and his determination. It seemed that Manning, after facing so much adversity and succeeding so spectacularly, was destined to walk away with a second, well-deserved Vince Lombardi trophy. Unfortunately, fate dealt a cruel hand. From the first play of the game, Seattle proved to be more eager and better prepared. The Broncos, who had been virtually unstoppable throughout the season, could hardly make a play. The game ended in a stunning 43 – 8 victory for Seattle. Just one look at Manning’s face after the game told the story of his extreme disappointment and sadness at the loss. Still, he faced the post-game reporters with quiet dignity and humility. He defended the hard work of his team out on the field. He chose to focus on how to use this experience to improve for next season. And despite his desire to retreat from the flashbulbs and teeming reporters, Manning still stopped to greet fans and sign autographs as he exited the stadium.
There are so many career lessons we can learn through Peyton Manning, from his attitude and approach to the game to the unexpected and sometimes devastating turns that life (and our careers) can take. Here are some that resonate with me:
*Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.*
Peyton Manning started his career with the Indianapolis Colts. It is where he always dreamed his career would end. After his injury, however, the Colts decided to let him go for a fresh and promising new talent. It was a devastating blow for Manning.
Often in our careers, we pour our hearts and souls into a specific job or company. We imagine that the love and loyalty we put into our work means that we will get that same commitment back from our employer. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Sometimes business is business. People get laid off or outlive their usefulness in the workplace. As companies struggle through tough economic times, the bottom line often becomes more important than the very people working to keep things afloat. It is a cruel reality, but a reality just the same.
The takeaway: Peyton Manning didn’t turn to hurling insults or badmouthing the Colts for terminating him. He also didn’t let the hurtful rejection discourage him from pursuing another opportunity. He spoke respectfully about his former team and all of the wonderful experiences he had there, acknowledged that ultimately the Colts made a business decision, and then signed with another team who would afford him the opportunity to do the job he loves in the right atmosphere with the right people.
When life gets in the way of our career plans, we have a right to mourn a bit for what we’ve lost. We cannot, however, let it destroy our self-esteem or stop us from taking next steps to a better opportunity. We have to take stock of the positive things that came out of that former experience, prepare to speak maturely and professionally about it as we pursue new career paths, and accept that better things are to come as long as we can use this experience to inform our choices from here on out.
*Reputation Can Only Take You So Far.*
Peyton Manning is an amazing quarterback. He will go down in football history as one of the all-time greats. He currently holds almost every record that an NFL quarterback can hold. On Sunday night, however, none of that mattered. He was outplayed and outperformed. While Manning is never one to rest on his laurels, it is definitely easy to fall into that trap when you have a reputation such as his.
The takeaway: When it comes to your job and your career, you have to bring it. It doesn’t matter how well you’ve done in the past or how many sterling recommendations you have. You have to approach every day and every task with the same strong level of commitment and ferocity. You’re not the best unless you’re bringing your very best to every task. It’s a tall order, and many times we may fall short. (Just ask Peyton.) It’s in those circumstances, however, that we need to honestly evaluate what we’ve done, to acknowledge our shortcomings (to ourselves and others), and to plan for how to use this information to improve. During the post-game press conference, Manning did just that and it’s the reason that despite his loss, today’s headlines are hailing him as an all-time legend instead of a Super Bowl loser.
*Sometimes It’s Just Not Meant to Be.*
Peyton Manning is notorious for pouring every ounce of himself into game preparation. He gets to the stadium before the sun is up to review plays and footage, he is always the first to practice and the last to leave, and he is intimately involved with coaching-level decisions on and off the field. The Broncos’ Super Bowl loss did not come about from a lack of preparation on Peyton’s part. He knew the opposition inside and out, and theoretically, what to do in order to topple their strong defense. On the day, however, it just didn’t happen. Maybe Peyton was having an off game. Maybe the first botched play shook him and he couldn’t recover. Maybe Seattle just wanted it more. Whatever the case, Manning had to walk out of MetLife Stadium on Sunday night knowing that he didn’t get what he so desperately wanted. In his talk with reporters, he acknowledged that a loss was not the outcome he desired but that he had to accept it and move on.
The takeaway: Discovering a career path that truly speaks to your passions (like Manning and football) can be a difficult thing. What can be even more difficult, however, is finding an actual job in that field. The job search process can be time consuming and full of unexpected disappointments. If you’re like me, you probably employ Manning-like preparation for a job interview. You learn everything you can about the company, its mission, the job itself, and your interviewers. You rehearse your STAR responses for days and beg friends, family, and pets to consent to mock interview you. You arrive to the interview an hour early and sit in the parking lot, incessantly checking that you have your resume and references while rehearsing your prepared responses to the rearview mirror (nevermind the parking attendant who gazes intently and confusedly in your direction).
And after all of that energy and preparation? You don’t get the job. You did everything right – sharp suit, friendly demeanor, well-crafted answers, rapport with the interviewers, and thank-you notes sent out within 24 hours. So what happened? Where did you fail? What didn’t they like? It’s easy to beat yourself up when you don’t accomplish what you set out to do. And yes, it’s important to realistically evaluate where your shortcomings might be. Sometimes, though, you just have to accept that it wasn’t meant to be. You may have been well-qualified and had a great interview, but you also don’t know who else walked through that same door. Maybe it was someone who had an even better interview or a more appropriate skill set. Maybe it was the CEO’s niece. Maybe you just weren’t the right fit for the company culture, despite your excellent qualifications. Whatever the case may be, wanting something badly and being prepared won’t always get it for you. Sometimes you simply have to follow Peyton’s lead – humbly accept the outcome and move on. This will free you up for better things to come…. And they will come, I promise.
In the meantime, enjoy the off season. Peyton and I will see you next year at Super Bowl XLIX.
Craft a Career. Embrace a Better Life. 