Monday Morning Match is a quick post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.
“What Happens in Starkvegas…”
It was another successful “boys weekend.” I got to reconnect with several buddies from my college days at The University of Florida the last few days as we converged on Starkville, Mississippi to watch the Gators battle the Bulldogs of Mississippi State. Sometimes referred to as “StarkVegas”, this quaint college town is one of the hidden gems of the Southeastern Conference and a hotbed of hospitality for visiting fans. Just be warned, the faithful fans of Mississippi State ring cowbells loud and proud before, during, and after the ballgames so don’t roll into Starkville expecting a sleepy little, quiet Southern town.
Our travels brought us together from all directions. Tom flew in from South Florida and met up with me in the Atlanta airport after I had been speaking in Michigan. Jamie joined us from Orlando, while Jim and Bill came from Jacksonville. Ross drove up from Tallahassee and we met up with Pete in his hometown of Birmingham before driving our rented RV through Tuscaloosa on the way to Mississippi. The final piece of the puzzle was Tim who was able to connect on Saturday after a short drive down from Nashville. Just like in years past, our time together wasn’t going to be lengthy so it was critical we made the most out of the weekend. Of course, it’s impossible to reminisce and recall everything from our years together back in the late 80’s and early 90’s but over BBQ and beers, we did our best to recollect some of the “greatest hits” of our relationships that began when we were teenagers and continue now as fathers reaching or nearing our fifties.
Sure, some of those stories probably get embellished each year while others are as crystal clear in our memory banks as other significant moments in our lives. Most of us attended each other’s weddings and we’ve watched our kids grow up over the years, a few of them now attending college themselves.
Same Team Cheering for Different Teams
Even though this was a “personal trip” between a busy few weeks of speaking events and real estate sales, it was nice to connect with some of my real estate friends from Starkville who hosted us at an amazing tailgate party before the game. Michelle and Amy from the Coldwell Banker Starkville Real Estate company hosted us at an amazing tailgate party just minutes from Davis Wade Stadium. As I have been to Starkville before to work with Michelle and her Coldwell Banker associates, we chatted a little about the real estate market and how her agents were staying busy and planning to finish the year strong, but this wasn’t a sales call. It was a social connection and the hospitality was outstanding. They even prepared a special blend of “Gator sausage” (special thanks to James and Shane for the tremendous grilling skills) and filled a cooler with some tasty local beers from the Magnolia State. In true Realtor form, the foundation of the relationship was cooperation and it was a successful connection.
The 24-Hour Rule
Legendary coach Don Shula led the Miami Dolphins to the only undefeated season in the Super Bowl era when they went 17-0 in 1972. Shula implemented what he called the “24 Hour Rule” which allowed for his players to celebrate victories or moan and complain about defeats for only 24 hours after each game. Once that time had passed, the previous game was simply a memory in the record books and their focus and attention shifted to their next opponent.
The same goes for us. The game ended with a thrilling, hard-fought Gator victory that we celebrated deep into the Mississippi night with fellow Gator fans and many of the Bulldog faithful. Waking up early for the long drive back to the Atlanta airport was easier after a win than the road trips we’ve made home after a disappointing loss, but tomorrow is a new week. We’ll add a few more stories and memories to the library in our minds from this visit but we’ve learned that we can’t win next week’s challenges with yesterday’s results.
Grab your cowbells. It’s a new week and that means it’s time to build relationships, solve problems, and have fun.
