3 Brick Walls

As Brian walked the campus, different landmarks acted as muses. A statue reminded him of the day he got the head coaching job. The auditorium prompted thoughts of the days when his girls had graduated. The lakeside bench where Kelly would meet him for lunch made him wonder if she waited on a bench for him somewhere. Memory Lane ended at the stadium. After climbing the stairs, he smiled at the newly placed placard on his old office:

Marcus Chase

       Head Football Coach

      “Knock, knock,” called Brian. “Is the new head coach around?”

      “Hey, Coach!” exclaimed Marcus seated at his desk. “He's around, but he should be out recruiting.”

      As Brian removed his coat, he examined the new look of his old office.

      Marcus said, “Glad you're here, Coach. You're the first to see. What do you think?”

      Brian silently looked at photos, trophies, and rings from Marcus's career as a player and coach. The walls were filled with an impressive collection of his football history.

      “Looks like you wanna be somewhere else.”

      “What?” Marcus answered in surprise. “I put a lot of time into this.”

      “I'm sure – and more time into attaining these accomplishments. But how you've set up this room won't set up your team to win. Lemme sit down before you get worked up. I've got a present that'll help.”

Brian sat, opened his bag, and removed an object.

      “Merry Christmas, kid,” Brian said as he placed a gold-painted brick on Marcus's desk.

      “What's with the brick?”

      “It's not what's with it,” answered Brian. “It's what's on it. A brick's a brick. But this one's special. It was given to me when I got my first head coaching job. Now I'm giving it to you.”

      “Is it a doorstop?”

      “It's not a stop, it's a start. This brick's the cornerstone of what you'll build here. I brought this brick to remind you of two important questions, but after seeing your office, you'll have three questions to answer to turn this team around. Pick up the brick and I'll give you those questions.”

      “Do I have to hold it?” smiled Marcus.

      “Indulge me.”

      Marcus reluctantly picked up the golden brick and Brian continued, “Now you're ready. The first question is, ‘Am I knocking down the brick walls my players and coaches have built around themselves?' And the second is, ‘Am I the coach my people would run through a brick wall for?'”

      Marcus realized the challenges ahead.

      Brian continued, “This brick's to remind you before you build a strong offense here that it's more important to build strong relationships. Without them, your team'll be challenged to win, even with great players. To build those relationships, you'll need a special kind of glue. And that glue's what the third question's about.”

“I hear you,” replied Marcus, recognizing that aside from press conferences and a few introductions, he didn't know anyone there. “You're earning your T-shirt. The brick and questions are useful. What's the third one?”

      “I only used those two questions when I coached. But after touring the ‘Marcus Chase Memorial,' there's one more question you must ask before the other two. If you don't get that answer right, the other answers don't matter.”

      “The Marcus Chase Memorial? Ha! What's the question?”

      “Okay,” replied Brian. “The third question is, ‘Am I the best representative of our culture?'”

      “What's that mean?”

      “Look at the walls,” Brian began. “It's obvious you were a great football player. And this stuff proves you're a football coach too. But it's time to be a great culture coach. Like coaching requires you to be more excited about someone else than yourself, this job requires you to be more excited about your culture than yourself. Look around. I see you and your history, but one thing's sure…. I don't see much about the culture you want. Especially the colors. If that brick's gonna be the cornerstone of your culture, everything in this room should be built upon it and match. I'm not saying this stuff isn't cool, but it should be in your home.”

      “Does everything have to go?”

      “No,” Brian replied. “Some things like the team photos and bowl ring when you played here are great. They're part of your connection to this school. But most of this stuff doesn't connect. That's not why kids'll want to come here. A head coach can't look confused where he is … or where he wants to be.”

“I feel you, Coach,” sighed Marcus. “I'm proud of that stuff and wanted everyone to know about me. But you're right. It's not about me, it's about the culture for them.”

      “Correct,” beamed Brian. “And don't forget one more thing about culture….”

      “What's that?”

      “It isn't just the culture you create for them. Yes, your culture has to be deliberate, but for it to be something they want to belong to, you'll have to create parts of it with them too.”

      Marcus scanned the room. “Thanks, Coach. Looks like I've gotta change the color scheme, huh?”

      “It's not just the colors you see. Culture begins with the way you see yourself. Until you see yourself as a culture coach more than a former player, you won't coach for culture. Remember, the culture must flow through your veins before it will flow through your team. If you cut your wrist, it should bleed gold and blue.”

      Marcus stared at the brick.

      “Yeah,” said Brian, “people will measure your program according to the ‘buy-in' of your team. That's a culture paradox, because buy-in never happens without the leader taking ownership first. Ownership's demonstrated by everything you do. Down to the colors of these walls.”

      “Geez,” said Marcus. “Would've been easier to stay defensive coordinator.”

      “Yes,