Xenophon Strategies

College Football Hall of Famer Lou Holtz: Add Value to People’s Lives

Blake Rhodes

College Football Hall of Fame coach and current ESPN analyst Lou Holtz described his organizational strategy to help any team win at the International Foundation of Employee Benefits’ annual Employee Benefits Conference in New Orleans over the weekend.  I was lucky enough to attend and came away energized and as my friend said, “ready to run through the tunnel and tackle someone.”

Well, my colleagues and clients need not worry.  I’m not ready to hurl myself at them like a linebacker would a quarterback.  However, I will hurl myself into achieving the team dynamic of WIN – What’s Important Now – to help us reach our common goal.

Holtz, who made his claim to fame when he led Notre Dame’s football program back to prominence in the late 1980s and early ‘90s, espoused these three rules that teams/groups need to achieve their goals – on the field and in life:

• Do what’s right.
• Do everything to the best of your ability.
• Show others you care.

These three ideals of believing and living up to your core values, giving your best effort and building trust with others helps you not only reach your goal, but also add value to other people’s lives.  Holtz simply stated, “You can measure your value to other people when you’re no longer involved with them.”  Who in your family would miss you?  Would your colleagues miss you if you left the company? Would your clients miss you at the end of a business relationship?

Here at Xenophon, we have proven time and gain that our WIN mentality adds values to other people’s lives – our clients.  Much of our new business comes from referrals from our clients, a strong sign that we add value to their lives.

My personal goal in business is add value to my clients and colleagues’ lives so that we can all reach our common goals. As I work towards my goals on a daily basis, I will remember the three words that are at the base of Holtz’ statue at Notre Dame: trust, commitment and love.

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