The Advantage Letter by Dave Martin
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“The way to achieve your own success is to be willing to help somebody else get it first.” » Iyanla Vanzant

Off the Top Rope

I need to be more careful about what I pause to look at on my social media feeds.

If you spend more than 4.8 seconds on a video, you're apparently telling the algorithm, "Send me more of this."

For quite some time, I was apparently a big fan of street fights. For the record, I'm not.

But I must have watched one of those videos just long enough for the algorithm to decide that's how I roll.

Sometimes, though, you actually get a steady stream of videos you enjoy.

One such case recently has been interviews with old professional wrestlers.

There was a time in my life when I probably would have been embarrassed to admit to my business peers how much I enjoyed wrestling back in the day.

But as time has passed, more and more people have admitted, "Yeah, I liked that stuff, too."

My favorite videos lately have been old wrestlers talking about the people they most enjoyed working with and the ones they hated stepping into the ring with.

And it had nothing to do with who they could beat and who they couldn't because we've since learned that the outcome was basically known before the opening bell ever rang.

I know, I know. I didn't want to believe that either.

But, alas, it's true.

Well, there was one exception. No one was ever completely sure whether Andre the Giant was actually going to let you win if that was what the script called for.

Okay, I digress.

But the thing that has made me smile time and again, and think about business in general, is how often these old wrestlers praise the "good workers."

They might simply call someone "a pro" or "a good hand."

Others are praised because they could "carry anyone," meaning they could make even an inexperienced wrestler look good.

In fact, most of the stars who drew the biggest crowds, earned the longest contracts, and made the most money were also widely known as "good workers."

Some flash-in-the-pan performers who weren't easy to work with or dedicated to their craft faded rather quickly.

All the talent and charisma in the world couldn’t sustain you if you weren’t a good person to work with.

That’s a business lesson for all of us.

Over time, being someone others want to work with becomes one of your greatest professional assets.

Strive to be the kind of pro others want to work with.

No Game of Chicken

I recently came across a picture in an old box in my office closet that cracked me up.

It captured an event from about 25 years ago. Truth be told, I had long forgotten it.

But that picture brought it all back.

In it, I'm standing side by side with an impressive assistant manager from one of our bank's in-store branches.

I remember thinking at the time that she exhibited the kind of enthusiasm and attitude that would one day lead to her promotion.

Oh, I forgot to mention something.

She was wearing a full chicken costume.

I'm talking full costume. Like... you couldn't even see her face. I think she could see through a hole in the beak or something.

Seeing that picture reminded me that it was my first visit to that branch in a rural market.

I pulled into the parking lot to find the young woman standing outside the store in costume, holding a sign that read, "Free Chicken With Checking."

That's right.

The in-store branch had partnered with the store to give new checking account customers a free chicken.

And yes, we actually had to explain to more than one customer that it wasn't going to be a live chicken. (Hey, farmers want what they want.)

I knew about the promotion, but I had no idea the branch had acquired a chicken costume.

I do remember asking the young lady when I met her if wearing that costume was some kind of disciplinary action.

Because if it was, I think she had a case against us.

Looking at that picture again, I remembered the funniest thing about it.

She was wearing her actual name tag.

Even in full chicken garb, she followed bank name tag protocol.

Now, that was commitment.

I remember a few executives at the main office rolling their eyes when they heard about the promotion.

I also remember those same eyes widening a bit the following month when we reported our new account production.

There was no way anyone who worked for that young lady could ever question her commitment.

Some leaders talk a big game about leading by example.

But are they willing to do what they ask others to do?

Silliness aside, leaders who truly lead by example end up with teams who never doubt their commitment.

How will you show yours this week?


“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” » Albert Schweitzer

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these columns are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of any affiliated entities or sponsors.
Dave Martin

The Author

Dave Martin has become one of the most prolific writers in the banking industry. His columns and newsletters are read in thousands of financial institutions each month. His keynote presentations, seminars, and podcasts have an authenticity and humor that brings teams of all sizes and seniority levels together.

You can learn more about Dave Martin at www.bankmechanics.com

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