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Here’s To The Average Ones: A Lesson from the Rose Bowl
A few weeks ago, a VC (who shall remain nameless) and I were discussing recruiting for start ups and he told me that athletes from “second tier” colleges were often great workers because they are disciplined, know how to fail, and can work as part of a team. I questioned this, because the athletes at my college were often academically far inferior and much more entitled than the average student. He asked where I went to school, and when I told him University of Oregon, he said, “no offense, but that’s a third tier school at best”.
He’s right. Most state universities are pretty average academically and U of O is no exception. But my state university was the only school I could afford to go to. I had to work the whole time and take out loans to pay for it. And I loved it.
The football team from my third tier state university won the Rose Bowl for the first time in 95 years last night. This is a big, big deal for us. When I was in college, the Ducks made their first bowl appearance in 20 years at some bowl in Louisiana named after a lawn care appliance and we were thrilled. But it wasn’t enough. We knew we could do better. And after nearly 20 more years, and some pretty big failures, we did. Because that’s what we do. We try, we fail, we learn and we get up and keep going until we’re champions.
It’s what Phil Knight did when he wanted to develop a better running shoe. And with Uncle Phil - our favorite Duck alum - as our guide, it’s what we all do.
Living and working in New York for the past 13 years, I’ve been surrounded by people who have gone to top academic institutions since the day they stepped into preschool. Most of them are pretty amazing. But somehow, this kid from a third tier school manages to walk among them, which is surprising to a lot of people (they continually tell me so). What I’ve noticed is that - in general - those of us who went to “third tier” schools and have chosen to try their hand at making it in New York possess some traits that are key to long term success. So (with apologies to Apple):
Here’s to the average ones. The loyal. The hard working ones. The ones who weren’t bred from birth for greatness. The ones who overcome third tier or average to be great.
The ones who have failed. A lot. They’re not fond of failure, so they learn from it and keep trying. You can under estimate them, pass them over, or write them off.
The thing you shouldn’t to is ignore them. Because they’ll surprise you. They listen. They learn. They help. They stay late. They work weekends. They lead and know when to get out of the way. They push companies forward.
How else can you get things done? Or imagine new ways of doing things? Or form teams with diverse perspectives?
You can think they’re average. They don’t. They know greatness isn’t a given. It’s what happens when you quietly do what needs to be done. When you work hard. When you appreciate the gifts you’ve been given. When you’re loyal to your team. Even when they fail.
GO DUCKS.
He’s right. Most state universities are pretty average academically and U of O is no exception. But my state university was the only school I could afford to go to. I had to work the whole time and take out loans to pay for it. And I loved it.
The football team from my third tier state university won the Rose Bowl for the first time in 95 years last night. This is a big, big deal for us. When I was in college, the Ducks made their first bowl appearance in 20 years at some bowl in Louisiana named after a lawn care appliance and we were thrilled. But it wasn’t enough. We knew we could do better. And after nearly 20 more years, and some pretty big failures, we did. Because that’s what we do. We try, we fail, we learn and we get up and keep going until we’re champions.
It’s what Phil Knight did when he wanted to develop a better running shoe. And with Uncle Phil - our favorite Duck alum - as our guide, it’s what we all do.
Living and working in New York for the past 13 years, I’ve been surrounded by people who have gone to top academic institutions since the day they stepped into preschool. Most of them are pretty amazing. But somehow, this kid from a third tier school manages to walk among them, which is surprising to a lot of people (they continually tell me so). What I’ve noticed is that - in general - those of us who went to “third tier” schools and have chosen to try their hand at making it in New York possess some traits that are key to long term success. So (with apologies to Apple):
Here’s to the average ones. The loyal. The hard working ones. The ones who weren’t bred from birth for greatness. The ones who overcome third tier or average to be great.
The ones who have failed. A lot. They’re not fond of failure, so they learn from it and keep trying. You can under estimate them, pass them over, or write them off.
The thing you shouldn’t to is ignore them. Because they’ll surprise you. They listen. They learn. They help. They stay late. They work weekends. They lead and know when to get out of the way. They push companies forward.
How else can you get things done? Or imagine new ways of doing things? Or form teams with diverse perspectives?
You can think they’re average. They don’t. They know greatness isn’t a given. It’s what happens when you quietly do what needs to be done. When you work hard. When you appreciate the gifts you’ve been given. When you’re loyal to your team. Even when they fail.
GO DUCKS.
