Allow me to be the first person to acknowledge there are too many sports analogies in business. I once saw a VC tweet “skate where the ball is going”. Clearly someone forgot Wayne Gretzky was Puck Jesus.. This week though? I’ve got to write a little something about my guy Tom Brady and his incredible career.

Growing up in the Boston area I had the unbelievable fortune of watching the greatest quarterback of all time for the duration of my entire adult life. From middle school until…two weeks ago I’ve watched his ascent, stumbles, and all 10 of those Super Bowls over the past 22 years. How lucky is that?

That’s one of my favorite things about Tom Brady’s story. The role of luck. His statistics and measurables didn’t necessarily impress coming out of college so he slipped to the sixth round where he was drafted by the one coach who built a culture around production. No veteran status or contracts took priority. The best players played. Period. Couldn’t we use a little more of that in business?

Stoic philosopher Seneca once said “luck is when preparation meets opportunity”. You know the story. Tom got his opportunity in his 2nd year when the incumbent starter Drew Bledsoe was injured in the first game after 9/11. He made the most of it.

In the years since we’ve learned a lot more about the immeasurables that made the man.

His work ethic and competitive spirit. In his Tom vs. Time documentary he said “if you compete against me, you’d better be willing to give up your life. Because I’m giving up mine.” He taught me to think about how I’m spending my time. Is it worthy of my life?

His humility. It’s been widely reported that he introduces himself to every new player by saying “Hi, I’m Tom Brady.” He gets to know his team members personally, at all levels of the organization, because it’s a team game. You win as a team and it takes a full organizational commitment to compete at a championship level. I wonder how many CEOs do that?

I learned even more by reading one of his favorite books, The Four Agreements. It’s barely 100 pages and full of timeless wisdom. Here are those agreements:

1. Be impeccable with your word
2. Don’t take anything personally
3. Don’t make assumptions
4. Always do your best

Not a bad guide for a fulfilling career & life. That’s a few of the things I’ve learned from my guy Tom Brady.

And the memories. Another Stoic philosopher, Andy Bernard, said it best: “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them. Someone should write a song about that”

Good luck in retirement Tom. I’m not crying, you’re crying!

I played for the name on the front of my jersey and the name on the back of my jersey. I played for my friends, my family & our community – every single one of you – that have given me what I have today.

I love you all. Thank you ALL for making this incredible journey possible pic.twitter.com/3jmNWid9ZB

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 3, 2022