Jefferies in the Super Bowl

This Sunday, most of the world will be watching the New England Patriots square off against the Philadelphia Eagles in the 52nd annual Super Bowl in Minnesota. The season has been a grueling 16 games and then after navigating the treacherous  playoffs, two teams finally earn the right to play for the ultimate grand prize of being world champion. To celebrate this American tradition, we thought we would share with all of you some of the traits and characteristics that we believe distinguish a championship football team:

1. Championship teams have many leaders and it is impossible for one person (or even a few) to drive a team to a championship. The leaders all play different positions and while some attract the glory, many have jobs that are really hard and not glamorous, but have to get done well or there will be no victory. Sometimes the leaders mess up and the rest of the team needs to carry the load.  Sometimes new leaders emerge out of nowhere and make all the difference in the world. At the end of the day, if all the individuals don’t get the job done, there will be no leaders or stars.
2. Championship teams give it their all and never give up. They don’t just sprint out of the locker room for one, two or three quarters. They know that to truly maximize their chance of winning it all, they need to give 110% for all four quarters of every game. They also know it is never over until it’s over. If there is a bad quarter and the defense stumbles, the offense fumbles or the special teams can’t get the job done, then everyone must rally for the remaining quarter(s) to make up for lost ground or there will be no championship. They also know that if they are ahead, they cannot let their guard down for even one play. In the pro’s, when you are ahead you run up the score because no lead is big enough to coast. They also realize that just because it is easy to score right now doesn’t mean it will stay that way.
3. Championship teams believe in themselves. They believe they deserve to be in the big game. The players are confident in their capabilities. The quarterback, receivers and running backs want the ball in their hands to show the world what they can do. The blockers know their job and relish their role. The snapper is looking forward to getting the ball to the field goal kicker who is looking forward to kicking the ball, regardless of the gusting wind. They all know they deserve to be on the team and every one of their teammates is counting on them, and they thrive on not letting their teammates down.
4. Championship teams invest in their bench. Rookies are identified, selected, groomed and mentored. Veterans take the time to share all of their knowledge, experience and wisdom. Rookies know they have to work extra hard to earn their shot on the starting team and are willing to put the time, effort and passion into getting ready for their big break. Once they get their break, they realize what every veteran knows: you have to earn it every day and it doesn’t matter what you did yesterday. Only today and tomorrow count.
5. Championship teams recruit top talent from other teams when that is what is needed to go the distance. The right new player can make the difference between a good team and a great team.  Championship teams welcome new players with open arms and the moment the player proves they are in fact truly additive to the team, they are instantly and embraced. The new player is just as important as the long time veteran, as each player has their role to fill for the team’s collective benefit. The new player never discusses what they accomplished wearing their old jersey. In fact, they never even mention their old team’s name–it just doesn’t matter. When new and veteran players are in the huddle together, there is only team that ever matters — their team on the field.
6. Championship teams study, work hard and always have a very well thought out game plan. Championship players never “wing it” or show up unprepared. Countless hours of preparation are required for every  20 seconds of live play.  Championship players do all they can to remove as much chance or luck as possible by knowing all the variables, understanding how and when to pivot, and being fully capable of anticipating and executing every possible option should the first choice of attack not work.
7. Championship teams know that success is mostly in their own hands. The players on championship teams know that it is about them and not really about who they play. If they do their preparation, are fully committed to each other, stick to their game plan and relentlessly give it their all, they will almost always win. Nothing is guaranteed, but championship teams know they are the ones who are most in control of their own destiny. They also thrive on this.
8. Championship teams have special character. The players know themselves and each other well. They care about each other. They put the team’s goals ahead of any individual goals. They realize that individual accomplishment, while wonderful and something to be celebrated, is hollow when compared to their team winning the championship. Good luck finding a professional player who would rather be at the Pro Bowl All Star Game versus the Super Bowl with their teammates. That player doesn’t exist.

We at Jefferies compete in a very different arena and our season consists of a whopping 261 regular season games (wait, check that-so many of us work on the weekends in some way or another-365 games).  While we don’t suffer the direct physical contact that there is in football, we all know that our chosen professional sport can be quite challenging, exhausting and draining in its own unique ways. After reading the list above, we hope that you may find more than a few similarities in what it takes for Jefferies to have a championship season.

Enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday, some chicken wings and beer, and of course your family and friends. Please come back fired up on Monday ready to play out the last month of our 1st quarter of 2018. We will then have three more quarters in what will certainly be a long season with lots of ups and downs, but with all of your help we intend to win the Championship!

Best,

Rich and Brian

P.S. Giants next year!?