“You get hit the hardest when trying to run or hide from a problem. Like the defense on a football field, putting all focus on evading only one defender is asking to be blindsided.”
― Criss Jami
Everyone has blind spots in their life. Whether it's an awful haircut that they think looks amazing or a serious issue that they believe they can handle, blind spots are a universal truth of human existence. And while it is sometimes easy to see someone else's blind spots, our own are elusive. That's probably why they are called "blind" spots. That is true of sports franchises as well, mostly because they are made up of people. But because teams are studied intently like sports nerds like me, those blind spots are much more noticeable than in individuals. Perhaps no franchise can better illustrate this point than the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys have one of the most unusual front office structures of any team in the NFL. One man, owner and GM Jerry Jones, is seemingly responsible for every major decision the team makes. And while the franchise itself is one of the most valued in the entire world, their disfunction on the field for the last 15 years can only be laid at the feet of the GM. No matter the coaching staff, quarterback or defensive scheme, the Cowboys have not found a way to return to the glory days since the departure of Jimmy Johnson and the team he built. But Jerry will never relinquish his position or power in the organization for fear he won't get the credit for winning. That is Jerry's blind spot. He doesn't realize that if his Dallas Cowboys win a Super Bowl, no one will care who gets the credit. His fan base will love him. In fact, the fans may love him more for being humble enough to take a step back in the interest of winning. But Jerry is an old-school wildcatter who will live and die by doing things his way. It didn't work for Al Davis in Oakland for his final 35 years of his ownership and it likely won't work for Jerry either.
Think today on where your own blind spots might be. Maybe someone or something has been trying to tell you something you just couldn't or wouldn't hear. Open yourself to different ways of looking at things and even ask your closest friends just what you might be missing in yourself. And finally, be humble enough to evaluate that feedback and make changes or have a different awareness of your life.
"Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them. Every day begin the task anew."
- Saint Francis de Sales
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