EVERYDAY JOE
When you live in Canton, Ohio, it’s not uncommon to occasionally find Hall of Fame athletes strolling around town. This was the case recently when Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas was a guest speaker at the fourth annual “Apprentice Draft Day.”
During the event, Canton-based International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 540 welcomed new workers into its apprenticeship program with the same fanfare normally reserved for the NFL Draft.
While wearing his gold jacket, Thomas discussed his football career in a question-and-answer session with a local radio host. When asked to give a message to the apprentices, he cited the advice of his former Cleveland Browns teammate Hank Fraley: “Be on time. Pay attention. Work hard. Don’t make it too complicated. It’s still a simple child’s game. Play with a little football. When you move your football, get it across the other team’s goal line.”
Thomas also added, “If you can pay attention. If you can be on time. And if you can work hard, you have the skills that are necessary to be great in this sport or really in any business or any field.”
Turns out, there’s a lot to learn about business from someone whose career centered on protecting quarterbacks and clearing the path for running backs to shine. His message, while rooted in sports, carried lessons every professional could stand to revisit.
Be on time. Nothing screams, “I didn’t want to be here” like not showing up on time—especially if you’re chronically late. It can also telegraph personal disorganization or being indifferent to other’s priorities. Over time, even those not particularly skilled at a task can earn grace from others simply by being on time. It signals effort and respect for the process.
Pay attention. You don’t have to be particularly smart to play football, and you don’t have to be particularly smart to run a business. But it does help to pay attention.
The activities and results a business owner experiences will follow the things they pay attention to. If sales are lagging, then their attention and actions should be to the things that are causing slow sales. The same is true with cash flow and profitability. When they’re given attention, good things can happen.
It’s also good when owners pay attention to what the people working for them are saying. There’s unrecognized wisdom that can reside within their comments.
Work hard. The myth that you can casually achieve success in business is just that—a myth. Building a successful business is not for the faint of heart. It’s a grind; a journey of struggle and learning. But it can also reward those who are willing to put in the work. The ones who keep showing up, grinding through setbacks, and staying focused often end up surprising even themselves.
Running a successful business is, at its core, about fundamentals. Doing the right things right—repeatedly. Things like Joe Thomas said about football: “Be on time. Pay Attention. Work hard.”
