Musings on Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Sunday, November 14, 2004Coaching in the Era of Free Agency
I like football, but I don't usually seek business insight by watching NFL on Fox. Nevertheless, former coach Jimmy Johnson said something this morning that I actually found interesting and germane.
The topic of conversation was in regard to changes in the profession of coaching. Johnson asserted that the coaches who succeed today in the era of free agency are great teachers that can bring new players and young players up to speed quickly. The coaches who aren't great teachers struggle.
In the knowledge economy, employees have more choice because they own an increasing portion of their means of production. Consequently, the average duration of employment has fallen. Nevertheless, productivity is situational, and even employees with broad experience need to climb a learning curve when they join a new company. As their skills increase, employees' opportunities increase, thus reinforcing the cycle.
Successful startups are often built by an entrepreneur and a core team that has a high capacity to learn. Continued success, however, may well be predicated upon their ability to help others learn.
A Path with a Heart
I'm facing a fork in my life path, so Atanu Dey's posting at Deeshaa caught my attention this morning:
From time to time, I find myself asking where am I headed. Don Juan is right in his claim that all paths lead nowhere. Lacking any specific distinguishing destination, the journey has to be the destination. The important thing then is the choice of heart. The way that has a heart is the one that I should journey on...Whatever path you freely take, is the path that is for you.
My friends and colleagues Laura Black and Don Greer have personal and professional philosophies that emphasize valid information, informed choice, and personal responsibility. Friend and serial entrepreneur John Funk emphasizes the importance of passion.
Whether or not we choose the path of entrepreneurship, we all face a simple and enduring question: Am I on a path with heart?