Reservist Magazine is the award-winning official publication of the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Quarterly issues include news and feature articles about the men and women who comprise America's premier national maritime safety and security
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From the Offce of Boat Forces Submitted by Mr. Donald P. Hartmayer, Program Analyst, CG-731 I recently read an article about legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi. Within this article was a story told by John Madden, a Super Bowl champion coach and longtime football broadcaster. As a young assistant coach, Madden attended a coaching clinic where Lombardi was a speaker. Madden was quite confident in his football knowledge, so he found a seat in the back row and prepared himself to endure the eight-hour lesson. To his surprise, the subject of the all-day session was a single play – the power sweep, which Lombardi made famous in Green Bay. At the end of the lecture, Madden was astonished by what transpired and what he had learned. As he told the story, "I went in there cocky, thinking I knew everything there was to know about football, and Lombardi spent eight hours talking about this one play. He talked for four hours, took a break, and came back and talked for four more. I realized then that I actually knew nothing about football." So what does this have to do with Boat Forces and why do I share this with you now that football season is long over? Simply, because there are lessons in Lombardi's approach to coaching and leadership that are as valuable today to every field of endeavor as they were when Madden had his "A-HA!" moment. Attention to detail: Lombardi spent eight hours teaching a single play to a group of people that were knowledgeable enough to be coaching the sport themselves. I have watched videos of Lombardi teaching the power sweep. The coach not only draws up the play but also explains what each player must do, what he should see, and how his role contributes to the success of the play. So very often it's the little things that make the difference between success and failure. Lombardi tried to leave absolutely nothing to chance. As he would tell his players, "Gentlemen, we will chase perfection, and we will chase it relentlessly, knowing all the while we can never attain it. But along the way, we shall catch excellence." Mastery of the subject: Lombardi could spend eight hours talking about something this specific only if he had ReseRvist Magazine HeadquaRteRs update 30 RESERVIST � Issue 2 • 2015