I first met Tony Bennett, the basketball coach and not the singer, 10 years ago when he first arrived at The University of Virginia. It was the same year we were starting our firm Miller Financial Group. Little did I know how much I was going to learn from this man.
His first year here I was offered the job of doing the color on the radio for the basketball games (pretty cool … right). But I declined the generous offer. You did WHAT? I saw Tony at a practice shortly thereafter and he came over to me with his head cocked to the side in subtle disbelief and said, “so, you said no? You turned it down?”
You see, we were just starting our firm. We needed clients! We needed to tell our story. I needed to put my team in place. I needed to be there and fully engaged.
Man, a lot has happened in 10 years. Our firm has grown. And I just completed my 3rd year of being the radio analyst for the Virginia men’s basketball team. I absolutely love my community, our MFG clients, and the wonderful team we have in place.
One of the things I’ve learned is how important TEAM really is. In the basketball program one of their pillars is Unity. And there is an African proverb that illustrates what unity is. It says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Their players embodied that at the highest level and it took them to a national championship.
Tony started building his team 10 years ago … just like us. It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time. It takes having a process in place, a trust in that process and the discipline to execute that process with the right collection of people. It’s having your convictions challenged but continuing to do the right thing when emotions are telling you to do something else.
By March 23rd, the S&P 500 had fallen 34% off its all-time high. Since then, the S&P 500, the Dow and the tech-heavy NASDAQ are all up significantly. If you did not participate in the last two weeks of growth you are getting punished. Let me say it again, it is important that you have a plan, remain disciplined and avoid making emotional decisions.
Tony Bennett had a great quote, “If you learn to use it right, the adversity, it will buy you a ticket to a place you couldn’t have gone any other way.” This was said after his #1 seeded team lost to #16 seeded UMBC in the first round of the NCAA tournament. That is the first time that has ever happened … EVER! Twelve months later Virginia won the national championship.
Remember, a house divided will not stand. The pillar of Unity brings us together. The detail is in the dirt. And we are getting dirty. Our team is in place to help you or someone you know touch greatness.
Let us know if you have any questions or how we can help!
Jim