The Seed Sower Coach

Learning New Tricks

“We’re doing twice the work we used to do and getting paid the same.”

“This new machine’s not as good as what we had before.”

Are these common refrains from your work environment? Although we’re all no doubt busy, I tend to find that the underlying issues have more to do with technological frustration and change more than most other factors.

Consider the first statement, which essentially addresses the “do more with less” argument. It is entirely true that nearly all of us are and are required to be more productive than we were 20 or even 10 years ago. Yet, look at the tools that are now at our disposal. Computer speeds are faster than ever. A single cell phone has more capability than the early computers that helped us land on the moon. Groceries and other goods are delivered to our doorsteps often within a day or even hours of ordering. Scientists developed an immunization for a threatening and sometimes deadly virus in less than a year, far exceeding our expected standards.

So yes, most of us are doing more than we used to do, yet with the aid of technology. If we are still where we were in 2001, we have simply not kept up.

Still, learning how to Zoom, text, or even email can be uncomfortable propositions for many. The reward for first tackling the challenge and then succeeding at it can be immensely rewarding.

In my work in college football, basketball, baseball, and softball for ESPN I provide statistical data and observations to the “on air” broadcasters during the course of a telecast. Basically the job description summary is to share information during an event that will enrich the production and allow the announcers to come across as even more informed and up to date than they already are.

Although sports has slowly made a return during Covid, the broadcasts are different. For one, there may or may not be fans in attendance. Further, the on air talent may not even be present, announcing from a room or basement in their home or some other venue. The same goes for me: out of the events I have been assigned and worked thus far in 2021 all have been from my home office in Florida.

I recall my very first remote production a few months back. Admittedly not as technically proficient as I would like to be, I was overwhelmed at how I was going to adapt, produce quality information, and communicate it effectively. From that experience, I developed a step-by-step formula that not only worked for me, but that I believe can apply to many of the challenges any of us face to make them seem not so intimidating. If I may share:

1. First of all be grateful that the powers that be have demonstrated the confidence in your abilities to entrust you with the responsibility. They may very well see or know some things that are not so readily apparent to you.

2. The long-time question and adage of “how do you eat an elephant?, “one bite at a time,” is very helpful. Break the project down into smaller increments.

3. Seek advice next from those who may have some experience with the same or a similar challenge.

4. Begin tackling the undertaking from the perspective of what you do know. For me that translates to studying game notes and statistics from a variety of websites and transferring that information into the format and tools with which I have most familiarity.

5. Next, tackle the technology options that are most comfortable. For me that is Zoom. In my instance it also meant acquiring two laptops to begin with—one for the live game broadcast and another in which to communicate notes specifically to on air talent.

6. A third laptop was then to be added to the equation in order to receive “live” or current statistical information.

7. Assure that internet connectivity is strong and that there is reliable back up, such as a cell phone “hot spot” in order to remedy a communications void.

8. Speaking of the cell phone, it plays a role in continuing to serve as a communication device, however, through an app that allows the ability to talk to the announcers and production truck, much like a headset at an on site event.

9. Finally take a deep breath, say a prayer, have a good show, and feel gratified that you did it.

Resourcefulness feels good. These sophisticated times of ours also provide a reminder that none of us are ever too old to learn new things. It is good for me to get a taste of obstacles similar to those I task to my coaching clients.

What is the new challenge that you’re going to take on?

The Seed Sower

The Inspiration of Caring

September 17, 2025

I had the pleasure of working with Bill Curry, former NFL player and college football coach, for several seasons when he served as a color analyst for ESPN. Bill is a master storyteller, with a gift of skillful articulation of his multi-faceted experiences.

In reflection, there was one particular story he shared that is especially poignant, given our present climate of being besieged by disagreement, rancor, downright anger and often hate.

Bill shared this story with a radio station in Wisconsin several years ago which was later updated by the Green Bay Packers.

Bill Curry was an unheralded rookie center in the summer of 1965 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

“I was a white guy from College Park, Georgia. I was the last choice in the 1965 NFL draft. We had 20 rounds in those days, and Lombardi had taken me 20th and last,” Curry told WTMJ’s Erik Bilstad.

“I had never been in a huddle with an African-American person, and I thought, with all those big African-American guys, they would try to intimidate me or hurt me somehow and keep me from making the team.”

As Curry put it, he could not have been more wrong.

“Led by Willie Davis, who was our defensive captain, those guys embraced me, not only treated me like an equal, but spent time with me, cared about me,” said Curry.

“Willie in particular took me aside and encouraged me when things looked dark, and essentially not only gave me a chance to play in the National Football League for 10 years, but changed my life, changed my attitudes, changed my capacity for judgment, prejudice and such.”

Curry stepped into a culture in Green Bay where Coach Vince Lombardi was decades ahead of his time in terms of social justice issues, never tolerating racism or prejudice. He molded Davis into a leader on and off the field, and Curry felt that leadership in a critical encounter in his career and life.

As Bill described it:

“I was walking out of the dorm one night. I was supposed to block Ray Nitschke every day. That was hilarious. Nobody blocked Nitschke, least of all an itty-bitty center in his rookie year.

“This voice came out of the darkness. It said, ‘Bill,’ and it sounded like God to me, so I said, ‘Yeah,’ and it was Willie Davis. I thought ‘Oh, no, he’s going to tell me to get lost.’

“That’s not what he said at all. He said, ‘I’d like to speak with you. I’ve been watching you practice. I like your effort. You’ve got a chance to make our team. I’m going to help you.’ I was completely taken aback. I said, ‘You’re going to help me?’

“He said, ‘Yep. When Nitschke’s tearing your head off,’ which he did,’ and Lombardi’s screaming profanity,’ which he did, ‘you come find me and I’ll get you through it.’

“Sure enough, Lombardi would go on one of his tirades, and I thought I was going to wither into the earth, and I’d find No. 87 on the defensive field…not only did he give me the impetus and inspiration to play in the National Football League for a long time, but he changed all of my attitudes about racism and Jim Crow laws in the South.”

“I’m eternally grateful.”

Years later, Curry asked Davis why he took that step for the rookie center back in 1965.

It took a while to get an answer.

“One time I flew to Los Angeles. I was coaching at Georgia Tech. I took him out to lunch and I started pumping him,” Curry said.

” ‘Willie, why would you spend time with a skinny white kid, an undersized offensive center and encourage a kid like me?’

“Do you know what he said? ‘I don’t know.’ He didn’t like being probed about that stuff. It turns out that the reason he didn’t answer the question was that he did it for everybody.”

”Willie said, ‘I hesitated to tell you this because I thought it would sound like bragging, but I spent that time with you because of my Christian faith. There it is, but don’t run around saying it too many times.’ I agreed to his terms.”

Willie Davis passed into eternity five years ago.

“He was just unique, unique in all the world. We’re going to miss him. The world’s not the same when you lose a great human being who cared for people no matter what they looked like, where they came from, what they were going to contribute, just because it was the right thing to do.”

What better legacy to be remembered by.

As an executive coach I encounter untold clients seeking to make impact. How might we each have impact in our communities, workplaces, and places of worship with someone who is different from you—a different race, faith, age, nationality, or political leaning? How can we be inspired by the legacy of Willie Davis? Who might need to hear from you today?

The Seed Sower

CIVILITY

Kirk McCarley, The Seed Sower Coach

Planting seeds of confidence . . .

The Inspiration of Caring

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CIVILITY

Kirk McCarley, The Seed Sower Coach

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