What Can You Learn From “Prime Time?”

I’m thinking you already know a lot about “Prime Time,” Deion Sanders.

A quick highlight of his career:

He’s one of the few people that have played two professional sports.

He played 14 years in the NFL, 9 years in MLB and was voted into the Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

“Prime Time,” is the only man to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series. He’s the only man to hit an MLB home run and score an NFL touchdown in the same week, and to have both a reception and an interception in the Super Bowl. 

Most recently he’s been the head coach at Jackson State University. Sanders led Jackson State to a 27−5 record during his three seasons at the helm. Within the last month he was named head football coach at University of Colorado Boulder.

I’ve attached a couple of videos of “Prime Time” meeting the members of the current Colorado team and saying his goodbyes to his players at Jackson State.

There are several takeaways in these video that I believe are critical to a leader’s success.

In the Jackson state video, it’s obvious how much his players love and respect him and the same from him to them. He’s able to have humorous moments and be able to get right back on task and talk about serious things.

When I owned dealerships, I often said to our new team members, “If you don’t have a sense of humor, you’re going to be very unhappy working here.”

A sense of humor combined with discipline is a powerful tool for a leader.

In the Colorado video he lays down the law. He’s dead serious and they know he ain’t kidding.

I love it when he says, “Some of you won’t make it here. Some of you will be gone.” Many leaders of today bend their rules so much that they end up with no rules and a list of meaningless processes.

No hats. No earrings. No Hoodies. His intent is to break them down just like they do in the Marine Corps.

The message is clear:

It ain’t about you.

It’s about the team.

We don’t need individuals.

We need strong teammates who are on the same page.

Say what you mean. Mean what you say.

At the very core of people respecting you is to do what you say you’re going to do when you say you’re going to do it. It cannot be any simpler than that.

“Prime Time” is smart.

“Prime Time” is a leader.

Be smart and lead like “Prime Time.” That’s all I’m gonna say. Tommy Gibbs