Sunday at the Post

QUOTE/STORY OF THE WEEK...

“I think the destiny of all men is not to sit in the rubble of their own making but to reach out for an ultimate perfection which is to be had. At the moment, it is a dream. But as of the moment we clasp hands with our neighbor, we build the first span to bridge the gap between the young and the old. At this hour, it’s a wish.  But we have it within our power to make it a reality. If you want to prove that God is not dead, first prove that man is alive.” -- Rod Serling, commencement address, Moorpark (Calif.) College, Dec. 3, 1968

Rod Serling

Today marks the 34th anniversary of the death of Rod Serling, who created, developed and wrote “The Twilight Zone” television show. 

Serling, discharged from the Army in 1946, enrolled at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where he majored in physical education. He soon switched to language and literature and began writing, directing and acting in weekly productions on a local radio station. While still a student, Serling sold his first three national radio scripts — and even his first television script, "Grady Everett for the People," which he sold to the live half-hour anthology series “Stars Over Hollywood” (NBC, 1950-51) for $100.
Serling married Carolyn Louise Kramer in 1948. After graduation, the pair moved to Cincinnati, where Serling became a staff writer for WLW radio and collected rejection slips for his freelance writing — 40 in a row at one point.

Serling's fortunes changed when he began writing full time. From 1951 to 1955, more than 70 of his television scripts were produced, garnering both critical and public acclaim. Full-scale success came on Jan. 12, 1955, with the live airing of his “Kraft Television Theatre” script "Patterns.”  Deemed a "creative triumph" by critics and the winner of the first of Serling's six Emmy awards, the acclaimed production was actually remounted live to air a second time on Feb. 9, 1955 — an unprecedented event.

There is much to learn from watching “The Twilight Zone” -- often I’m referring to old episodes in present-day situations. For anyone who aspires to write creatively for pleasure or for a living, Serling was the master storyteller -- someone who had the ability to tell a wonderful story. 
Here are some interviews from Serling on the “The Art of Writing”:

Writing for TV--Rod Serling

Video--Mike Wallace interviews Rod Serling

My Favorite “Twilight Zone” episodes:

Click the links below, which will give you a synopsis of each show

1.    A Stop at Willoughby

2.    The Mirror

3.    A Hundred Yards Over the Rim

4.    The Silence

5.    A Most Unusual Camera

I hope you enjoy them. Your work lives on, Mr. Serling. 

COUNTDOWN TO TRAINING CAMP: 28 DAYS FOR THE BILLS AND BROWNS

Baltimore Ravens: July 27 (rookies), July 29 (veterans)
Buffalo Bills: July 25 (rookies and veterans)
Cincinnati Bengals: July 30 (rookies and veterans)
Cleveland Browns: July 24 (rookies), July 31 (veterans)
Denver Broncos: July 30 (rookies and veterans)
Houston Texans: July 26 (rookies), July 31 (veterans)
Indianapolis Colts: Aug. 2 (rookies and veterans)
Jacksonville Jaguars: Aug. 2 (rookies and veterans)
Kansas City Chiefs: July 31 (rookies and veterans)
Miami Dolphins: Aug. 1 (rookies and veterans)
New England Patriots: July 26 (rookies), July 29 (veterans)
New York Jets: July 27 (rookies), July 30 (veterans)
Oakland Raiders: July 29 (rookies and veterans)
Pittsburgh Steelers: July 31 (rookies and veterans)
San Diego Chargers: July 26 (rookies), July 31 (veterans)
Tennessee Titans: July 30 (rookies and veterans)
Arizona Cardinals: July 29 (rookies and veterans)
Atlanta Falcons: July 31 (rookies and veterans)
Carolina Panthers: Aug. 2 (rookies and veterans)
Chicago Bears: July 31 (rookies and veterans)
Dallas Cowboys: July 29 (rookies and veterans)
Detroit Lions: July 31 (rookies and veterans)
Green Bay Packers: July 31 (rookies and veterans)
Minnesota Vikings: July 30 (rookies and veterans)
New Orleans Saints: July 30 (rookies and veterans)
New York Giants: Aug. 3 (rookies and veterans)
Philadelphia Eagles: July 26 (rookies), July 29 (veterans)
San Francisco 49ers: July 28 (rookies), July 30 (veterans)
Seattle Seahawks: July 30 (rookies), July 31 (veterans)
St. Louis Rams: July 30 (rookies), July 31 (veterans)
Tampa Bay Bucs: July 31 (rookies and veterans)
Washington Redskins: July 29 (rookies and veterans)

THINGS WE LEARNED LAST WEEK IN THE NFL...

APDennis Northcutt

1. The Jaguars have agreed to trade WR Dennis Northcutt to the Lions for safety Gerald Alexander, according to agent Jerome Stanley, who represents both players. I’m not sure how this trade helps the Jags.  Northcutt and the recently departed Matt Jones accounted for over 100 catches last season. Northcutt is not always dependable catching the ball (how could Browns fans forget his drop or failure to make the play in the 2002 playoff game?), but he’s still effective -- he has some quickness left to separate from man-to-man coverage. The Jags must like some of their young wide receivers who have not been on the field, most notably Mike Walker. Normally, you trade a veteran to clear the path for a rookie.  From my vantage point, that’s what the Jags and Lions have accomplished with this trade. The Lions needed to clear a path for their rookie safety, Louis Delmas, to make sure he’s ready to go with no one looming over his shoulder. On offense, the Jags are going to be fun to watch this summer. I’m very curious which player will provide them with explosive plays. I love Maurice Jones-Drew, but who else can make plays? 

2. Julius Peppers’ stalemate with the Carolina Panthers is over, leaving the defensive end rich and the NFC South champs free from worrying about a holdout. Both sides have much at stake in this move, as the Panthers must get a huge year from Peppers and Peppers must perform.  

APJulius Peppers

3. The Kansas City Chiefs announced Thursday that they’ve signed free-agent safety Mike Brown, who has been unable to stay healthy in recent years. Signing Brown four years ago might have been a very good move, but with all his injury issues, you have to wonder how much he has left.  The Chiefs are clearly attempting to bring in veteran players who may not have much to offer on the field but who can show younger players how to be a professional off the field. 

4. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is beginning to focus on evaluating Michael Vick's future in the league. That doesn’t mean, however, that a decision about the suspended quarterback will come any time before the 2009 regular season begins. The commissioner is also looking into the Plaxico Burress situation. Burress’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, my fellow Twitter man, claims to have five interested teams. Those teams’ interest will surely depend on the final ruling of the commissioner. In light of the Donte’ Stallworth suspension, if I were working for an NFL team, I would assume that Burress is in for a long suspension as well. 

5. “Deacon Jones left an indelible mark on the Rams organization as one of the best defensive players in NFL history,” Rams’ owner/chairman Chip Rosenbloom said. “For more than 10 seasons, the No. 75 Rams jersey represented hard work, determination and defensive dominance. We take great pride in honoring Deacon and his wife, Elizabeth, by retiring his number.” I love it when teams pay respect to their past, as well as to their past players. Now, go back to the same uniforms those Rams teams once wore. (By the way, I’m very happy that my 76ers went back to their old uniforms. It makes sense that team that’s dedicated to the memory of 1776 be dressed in good, old-fashioned red, white and blue. Thank you, Ed Stefanski.) 

THINGS I HEARD AROUND THE NFL LAST WEEK...

APMichael Vick

1. As the landscape for Vick’s future takes shape, sources tell me that one team that won’t be interested is the New England Patriots. Many have felt that Vick might be an option in New England, but I’m told that the scheme and the lack of potential to become an eventual starter aren’t suitable to him. 

2. The work ethic of quarterback JaMarcus Russell is still being questioned by many who have worked with him in the past and are working with him now. After he issued a call to his teammates to practice and finish the OTA days strong, he then disappeared and was AWOL on the last day. Russell must learn that talent alone is not going to make him successful.  Dedication to becoming a better player is what he needs. 

3.The lawsuit filed by Joe Jurevicius against the Cleveland Browns and the Cleveland Clinic is going to have many teams watching closely.  Typically, players must file a grievance with the NFL Players Association against the team for lost wages. However, the lawsuit claims that Jurevicius contracted a staph infection following arthroscopic surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in January 2008. As a result, the lawsuit says, "Jurevicius may never be able to play professional football again."

IF I WERE WORKING FOR THE...

1. Jacksonville Jags: I would be very worried about finding some skill players, and might think of making a call to Buffalo to see if I could acquire wide receiver Roscoe Parrish. The Jags need playmakers or else David Garrard is going to have a long season.

APJulius Jones

2. Seattle Seahawks: I would be very nervous about my running back situation, banking on Julius Jones to be the guy. That would make my summer vacation very uneasy.

3. Washington Redskins: I would be looking under every rock to find some offensive linemen who could help my team. The ‘Skins have to block three very good defensive lines in football twice a year -- the Giants, Eagles and Cowboys. 

4. Cincinnati Bengals: I would assign someone to watch Andre Smith all summer. I would invest in hiring a personal coach to make sure Smith is working out, losing weight and staying in shape while he’s away from Cincinnati (I hear from a reliable source that they have trouble finding Smith).

5. Atlanta Falcons: I would sign Kevin Carter to ensure I have enough size and girth inside at the tackle position. I realize Carter is old and long in the tooth, but he could provide some veteran help to a young line. 

BOOK OF THE WEEK...

"They have a very smart coaching staff and we have a very smart coaching staff.  They (the coaches) basically use us as chess pieces.  How they position us to play this game that is the main thing now. Whoever can make the adjustments the best and the fastest will probably have the edge." -- Former New York Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles prior to opening last season against the Patriots.

“How Life Imitates Chess” by Garry Kasparov

Making the Right Moves -- from the Board to the Boardroom 

FROM AHEAD SPACE --  “What makes chess such an ideal laboratory for the decision-making process?  To play chess on a truly high level requires a constant stream of exact, informed decisions, made in real time and under pressure from your opponent. What's more, it requires a synthesis of some very different virtues, all of which are necessary to make good decisions: calculation, creativity and a desire for results. If you ask a grandmaster, an artist and a computer scientist what makes a good chess player, you will get a glimpse of these different strengths in action.

”Kasparov does a very good job of taking his practical experience to the business world. He breaks down the chess master thought process into five separate areas, showing us how to think clearly through problems as every move has a positive and negative repercussion. 

1. Strategy: The distinction between strategy and tactics is important.

2. What Turns Tacticians into Strategists: The strategist starts with a goal in the distant future and works backward to the present.

3. Material, Time and Quality: Every chess player is familiar with the concepts of material, time and quality.

4. Material -- the Fundamental Element: When we first learn the game of chess, we're all terrible materialists.

5. Time Is Money: Anyone who has ever worked for an hourly wage knows that in the most basic sense, time has value. 

VIDEOS OF THE WEEK...

Gary Kasparov: Making Mistakes in Chess

Pat Lencioni on Leadership -- a great five-minute lesson on leadership. 

Red Auerbach on leadership....voice only, but so worth the listen.

LEADERSHIP IMPROVEMENT IDEA...

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts." – sign posted by Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver in the clubhouse after the '68 All-Star Game.

Seven Steps to Boost Your Leadership Self-Confidence -- Marshall Goldsmith

1. Decide if you really want to be a leader. Many of the MBAs who report self-confidence issues are brilliant technicians. They often find the uncertainty and ambiguity of leading people very unsettling. They are looking for the "right answers" -- similar to the ones in engineering school. In some cases, brilliant technical experts should continue to be brilliant technical experts and not feel obligated to become managers.

2. Make peace with ambiguity in decision-making. There are usually no clear right answers when making complex business decisions. Even CEOs are guessing.

3. Gather a reasonable amount of data, involve people, then follow your gut and do what you think is right.

4. Accept the fact that you are going to fail on occasion. All humans do.

5. Have fun. Life is short. Why should you expect your direct reports to demonstrate positive enthusiasm if they don't see it in you?

6. Once you make a decision, commit and go for it. Don't continually second-guess yourself. If you have to change course, you have to change course. If you never commit, all you will ever do is change course.

7. Demonstrate courage on the outside, even when you don't feel it on the inside. We are all afraid on occasion -- that is just part of being human. If you are going to lead people in tough times, you will need to show more courage than fear. When direct reports read worry and concern on the face of a leader, they begin to lose confidence in the leader's ability to lead.

Check out the Leadership Hub Web site.  This site is a tremendous resource for learning, improving and developing your craft as a leader. 

ARTICLES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED THAT AREN’T WORTH MISSING...

The Portland Trailblazers have a very good scouting system and rely on their European scout to provide the right answers. 

The Buck Stops (and starts) at Business School. 

COMMENT OF THE WEEK FROM THE POST...

"Another novel length post from a Raiders' fan begging us to believe that Russell is great. Five seasons in a row with 11 losses? Those are the facts, and until they change, I can hear all of the Raider nonsense in the world but I can't really value those opinions until they win."

-From "Men of Troy" in the column The Impact Players: AFC West by Matt Bowen

REMEMBER WHEN...

This past Friday, I took my youngest son to the University of Delaware to attend orientation for incoming freshman. Once the first meeting was over, I dashed down Main Street to the Central Peaks Coffee House (they used to be called coffee shops) to write my Friday column. Central Peaks had free WiFi and huge coffee mugs. Diners are still my favorite, but they don’t always offer free WiFi.  This has to change soon. 

Walking down the street of this magnificent campus kindles all sort of memories, ranging from my days attending college in New York to taking a road trip with my  roommate to visit some friends (good for me, bad for Paul – sorry, Beef) at the university to my favorite Raider, Rich Gannon. 

This whole memory for me started in 1987. While attending the NFL Combine in Indy, I had the important job of carrying all of Coach Bill Walsh’s material, making sure he was free to shake hands as we moved from place to place. This was one of my favorite jobs in life. I mean, when can you have a private audience with a living legend?  Sure, it was hard work lugging those books around, but the alone time was a real education. 

The day the quarterbacks were scheduled to work out, Coach Walsh wanted to get there early to evaluate the prospects as they went through their drills. Mike Holmgren was our quarterbacks coach at the time and was already in his seat waiting for the workout to begin. As we strolled through the Dome, Coach Walsh was very nice to everyone who approached, but you could tell he wanted to move quickly to not miss a throw. We finally reached our destination, but before we sat down, he turned to me and asked, “Who is that guy out there?” 

“That guy,” I told Coach, was Rich Gannon from the University of Delaware, a great athlete who many felt might be able to play another position. “Tell Mike to go and work him out,” he told me before sitting in his chair. Naturally, I followed orders and headed over to Holmgren with my assignment of his new travel plans. Mike good-naturedly accused me of setting him up for this unnecessary trip since we already had Joe Montana on the team – and we had yet to make the trade for Steve Young, which would happen later that April. 

Walsh loved Gannon’s feet and his movement, and I really feel that if we had drafted Rich, his whole career would have been as successful as his time in Oakland. Gannon had the unique competitive drive to overcome any obstacle on or off the field. I’m very lucky to call him friend and even luckier to share the same summertime home. 

I'm looking forward to spending time with “that guy” this summer. 

STORIES TO SHARE...

With the recent news of celebrity deaths this past week, a story about giving your time is most important. 

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door. It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly, remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry, Mom,” Jack said. “Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago."

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him, he would ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," his mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said.  "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important. ... Mom, I'll be there for the funeral."

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown.  Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he was to return home, Jack and his mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture...Jack stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his mom asked.”

“The box is gone," he said.

“What box?” his mom asked.

“He kept a small gold box locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he would ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,' ” Jack said. It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly as Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day, Jack discovered a note in his mailbox.

"Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.

Early the next day, Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention.

"Mr. Harold Belser," it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. Inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett.  It's the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing as tears filled his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. Inside, he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover.

These words were engraved on the inside: "Jack Thanks for your time! Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most...was...my time.” Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days.

"Why?”  Janet, his assistant, asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said. 

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