Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a big American Football fan and an avid follower of the San Francisco 49ers. Part of why I started following the Niners was the way they played. Not only were they trying to do the usual physical stuff but they outsmarted their opponents. They were organised, prepared and educated.
This was all down to the efforts of one of the best coaching lineages in the game, founded by "The Genius" Bill Walsh. In 3 years, he turned a hapless 2 win team into a Super Bowl champion that would win the big one 4 more times in the following 15 years. Walsh is famous for finding hidden gems in players such as Joe Montana, Steve Young and Jerry Rice. The so called West Coast Offense that he created revolutionised the sport. He made huge strides in creating opportunities for black coaches. But his book, Finding The Winning Edge, clearly shows that Walsh entered the Niners campus with a plan in mind for every little detail and minute of the day. He did something that I preach, he saw the bigger picture. Everything thing he did had a purpose. Whether it was firing a player while on the practice field and having him escorted away without having a chance for a shower or planning a meeting, everything had a purpose even if it wasn’t immediately evident. What’s more, Walsh was a teacher. He taught his players, his co workers and his coaches. This is something that seems to be lost in the IT business.
His genius transcended sports. Many corporate types used his lessons for themselves. I like to think that I learned a few lessons from his book. I’ve tried to recruit based not on CV’s but based on intelligence and potential. I’ve tried to teach and to share my knowledge with those people so that they could improve their careers – and make my day easier too 🙂
On Monday, Bill Walsh lost his battle with leukemia at the age of 75. The hall of famer made a difference and will be missed by Niners fans everywhere.