The Success Strategy I Wish I Could Give My Younger Self
Forget credit. Do the work
At the height of the financial crisis in 1975, Bill Belichick — the now six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach of the New England Patriots — was 23 years old and unemployed. Desperate for a job in football after an assistant position fell through, he wrote some 250 letters to college and professional football coaches, according to his biographer David Halberstam. Nothing came of it except a job with the Baltimore Colts that paid $25 a week.
The Colts’ head coach desperately needed someone to break down and analyze game footage. Most people would have hated this job — especially back then, without the help of today’s sophisticated statistical-analysis programs — but it turned out to be the springboard that launched Belichick into his legendary (albeit complicated) career.
In this lowly position, Belichick thrived on what was considered grunt work. Said coach Ted Marchibroda: “You gave him an assignment and he disappeared into a room and you didn’t see him again until it was done, and then he wanted to do more.”
Most importantly, he made the other coaches look good. His insights gave them things they could give their players. It gave them an edge they would take credit for.
