Unless you been on a trip to the moon for the past month, it is nearly impossible to not know that the Colorado Rockies have been embarking on a magical run at the World Series.  And even if you have been traveling to the moon, it would be nearly impossible to not hear the volume of encouragement the fans have been giving them.  Colorado has officially renamed October - ROCKTOBER. 

Exactly one month ago the Rockies were a mere four (4) games above .500 and found themselves nearly out of contention in the bid for a playoff or Wildcard birth.  What the Rockies have accomplished since then is nothing short of miraculous, and I could easily spend the rest of this blog sharing the astronomical stats the Rockies compiled throughout the season, but they actually offer a fantastic model of Leadership X teamwork in motion. 

The Rockies no doubt have accomplished remarkable success this season - namely their astonishing run of winning 21 of their last 22 games, but what the Rockies have going for them is nothing more than Classical Mechanics working in their favor. 

Like a giant steamroller, the Rockies began to pick up speed as they entered the critical stretch of the season, and have flattened everything and everyone in their path.  The key ingredient to the Rockies success has been momentum, which is merely the byproduct of great leadership and teamwork.  But what is it that has given the Rockies so much momentum?  Simply the perfect execution of the Laws of Motion required to build momentum:

1.  Set a Vision - The Rockies established that, the vision, for their season would be set at winning the World Series.  But many times, visions at the start of the journey can loom like Mt. Everest, even if you are the Rockies, and require that a series of smaller more attainable goals are set.  With the achievement of each smaller goal, the Rockies were able to leapfrog their way to the next goal allowing each small success to build momentum for the next, thereby making each approaching goal easier.  Follow one success immediately with another to help build momentum and make the “Vision” attainable.

2.  The Buy-In - The vision must be the first principle set in gaining momentum, but next your must have the Buy-In of the whole team.  With each teammember focused on the same definite marker the Mass of the vision is set in motion with minimal internal forces affecting its path.

3.  The Inner Circle - The team has chemistry, there is no doubt about that, but more than chemistry, each player compliments and makes up for someone else’s weakness.  This allows each player to focus on and operate within their Strength Zone and figuratively removes any gaps because each players weakness is accounted for by the efforts of the whole team.  The Rockies stand by and define the acronym T.E.A.M - Together Everyone Achieves More.  They understand clearly that those closest to you will determine your success.

4.  The Law of Timing - Too many people, corporations, and teams attempt to rush their plans before the environment given to aid the plan has had time to set up.  Had the Rockies gone 21-1 at the start of the season it would have made for great headlines here in Denver, and amazing highlights on ESPN’s Sportscenter, but it would have been ill timed for their run at the Series.  When to plant is as important as knowing when to harvest. 

5.  No Dominating Hero - Many professional sports teams, and corporations for that matter, attempt to build a team around one star player. Clint Hurdle, the Rockies Manger, believed that his team would win through the collective effort of the entire team, not solely on an individual achiever. He chose players that would work together as a team, rather than try to be the hero. The players on the Rockies Roster are not the nations best players, a flaw many analyists saw as a weakness, yet Hurdle saw them for their potential as a team; not their individual potential.  His secret is TeamWork.

All of this is merely Newton’s Laws of Motion in action, which provides us with the mathematical equation P=MV.  Where P is Momentum, M is Mass and V is Velocity.  The higher the Mass and the faster the Velocity the more Momentum that is generated.  By using the Principles of Momentum identified in this blog, you can determine the Mass of the equation based off the size of your Vision, and you can determine the Velocity by the execution of the remaining four principles.  Thus you now can build momentum for yourself or your business. 

[Purchase your copy of my book - Developing a Million-Dollar Relationship: A Man's Strategy to a Real Relationship Now through October 31st for 25% off.  Just enter the Promotional Code Thanks during checkout to redeem your discount.]

If people are like me, most people are quick to judge and quick to anger. Oblivious to the fact that just the opposite is suggested as a means to positive behavior. In fact, I am guilty of passing unfair judgments and erupting in anger before ever stopping to think. Not exactly a trait I am proud of, but it is one that I am currently working on using this lesson.

What is it that drives this type of negative behavior? That is the first question that must-be answered to correct this type of attitude. While great arguments could be made, we could spend the better part of a day discussing them; I believe that the answer is boiled down to this: We are intimately involved in every-one of our own decisions and, therefore, tend to see ourselves based on our intentions. However, given that we see others from an outside perspective looking in, we tend to see others based off their actions.

Art Mortell, author and motivator, probably offers the best advice for the solution to this phenomena. He states, “I love playing chess. Whenever I am losing, I consistently get up and stand behind my opponent to see the board from his vantage. Then I discover the stupid moves I have made because I see it from his viewpoint.”

What consequences do seeing ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions present?

It causes you to be inward focused and not looking at others. It robs you from the ability to see the big picture or the ability to see beyond yourself. In other words you become selfish.

It causes you to be pessimistic and justify your actions. What an uncomfortable feeling. To always be on your toes ready to defend your actions because no one is willing to give the benefit of the doubt.

It keeps you from learning from your mistakes. We must learn from each mistake and failure no matter how small or seemingly unnecessary; only by this process can we truly build character.

It causes you to De-Value others. When you de-value others you keep yourself separated, many times, from the ones you love the most. You think of yourself and above all others and more important than the “little people”

It causes you to be closed-minded. Is an explanation really needed?

It causes you to be prideful and concerned with simply being right. In turn, this leads to being cynical and developing into an egotistical jerk.

In order to be able to improve, ask yourself these simple questions when you recognize you are being judgmental.

1. Am I basing my decision and feelings off their actions?
2. Have I considered or taken the time to stand up and walk to their side and see the board from their viewpoint?

In order for this to work you must be honest with yourself when you are seeing another person based on his or her actions, and spend a moment walking in their shoes to get a better perspective. As my father always told me, “Before judging, always walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. Because then you will be a mile away and now you have their shoes.“

[Purchase your copy of Developing a Million-Dollar Relationship: A Man’s Strategy to a Real Relationship today for a 25% discount through October 31, 2007. Just enter the Promotional Code Thanks during checkout to redeem your discount. http://www.jamesschellman.com }

36 months of hard work and effort went into writing and producing Developing a Million-Dollar Relationship: A Man’s Strategy to a Real Relationship, and I am proud to finally have it released and available for the public to read. 

The other day I was looking at the release date, September 20, 2007, and I found it coincidental.  The reason being that September 20, is my wedding anniversary, and by no planning or conscious decision was the book released on the same day. 

 As a ‘thank you’ to those of you who are interested in reading Developing a Million-Dollar Relationship: A Man’s Strategy to a Real Relationship we are running a 25% off Promotion for the month of October.  From October 1 - October 31 you will receive 25% off your order on Http://www.jamesschellman.com when you enter the promotional code: Thanks during the checkout process.Š