Super Bowl Thrashing Proves Value in the Underdog

COURTESY OF SEAHAWKS.COM ...WHY NOT THEM???

The Super Bowl was not exciting for those who wanted to see a "good game" but extremely thrilling for others who were amazed by the Seattle Seahawks' defense almost shutting out the perceived best-offense in the league.  Since the lights could not be cut out to change the momentum, let's take the win and look at how you can learn from the Seahawks' roster of underdogs who quickly became champions.

21 out of the 53 players on the active roster were undrafted.  This means they were looked over in combines as not being "worthy" of being selected in the NFL draft.  That is almost half the team.  These players had to work tirelessly and prove their worth to get on a roster.  Nothing came easy for them - moving from other team's practice squads city to city, staying in temporary living conditions, making the league minimum on some weeks and no salary on others, proving they can learn the plays thrown at them, and eventually landing in Seattle with great leadership and teammates.  Persistence, drive, and great work ethic gets you to levels unimaginable as long as you keep believing in yourself.

Great leadership understood the power of mental stimulation.  If you are motivated and have a burning hunger to succeed, a great leader knows that distractions like poor team morale, surrounding poor work ethic, team in-cohesiveness, and others' lack of self-confidence seriously impact the ability to win a championship or accomplish great results.  The stronger the mind, the more adversity one can handle.  Great leaders know how to help their team members shake off the defeats.  They also know how to move people off the team who have insecurities because they negatively affect the dedication of others.

Whether you want to start a new career or business or want to flourish with a promotion, the only limits are the ones you place on yourself.  If almost half the Seattle Seahawks could work tirelessly to get to a championship team, so can you.  You do the work and find the right leader that has your best interest at heart. The Seahawks did it - why not you?

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Posted in: NFL,NFL Practice Squad,NFL Teams,Seattle Seahawks,Super Bowl,Temeko Richardson

Contracts in Corporate Settings Beat Roster Cuts

Here Now Gone In an Hour...

One thing we learned from Thursday to Sunday before the Labor Day weekend is that there are a lot of non-guarantees for a spot on the 53-player roster of NFL teams.  This is not really different from corporate contracts which have a clause for immediate dismissal or non-renewal of contingent workers - with one exception.

WARNING.

In corporate settings, professional managers know the employment space in the same industry and line of profession is small.  There are huge chances you may see the person you are letting go or who has let you go again.  Normally a two week to sometimes two months notice, if they really like you, is provided so you can plan both financially and professionally for the next move.

NFL players have it much worse if they are on guaranteed contracts like rookies and especially undrafted ones.  Even league veterans can sign and be released during the preseason and placed on the wire and hope to be cleared on waiver before another team either signs them on their active roster or 8-member practice squad.  Perfect examples of the latter are 9-year veteran Braylon Edwards and former rookie standout Denver Bronco QB Tim Tebow who were recently released from the New York Jets and the New England Patriots, respectively.   No notice - just goodbye.

In the world of average working Americans, this does not happen on a regular basis unless you are in a right-to-work state.  There are no temporary stop gaps like a practice squad that pays $6000/week for the season and post-season.  There are temp agencies but that may not even come close to what you were previously making in a contract or salary. 

Of course, work as hard as you did to get where you are now.  Make sure there are no regrets when you reflect over your assignments and ability to learn the plays. But in the corporate world, make sure your contracts are iron-clad with a clause for notice of termination or non-renewal.  This prevents being on a pendulum swing on what your future will be constantly over a set period of time -  a nervous defensive position for 700 NFL players on last Saturday evening unless they prepared for life after the limelight. 

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Posted in: Braylon Edwards,contract,contract work,employment,Get A Clue,New England patriots,New York Jets,NFL,NFL Practice Squad,NFL Roster cuts,roster cuts,subcontracting,Temeko Richardson,Tim Tebow