Why did I ask my dad for his autograph when I was a kid?

Why did I ask my dad for his autograph when I was a kid?

Dad was a pro soccer player.

Most notably, the US Men’s National Team goalie in the 70s.

He’s in the Illinois Soccer Hall of Fame.

And the Ukrainian Soccer Hall of Fame.

Unfortunately, I never saw him play professionally.

By the time I was born, his career was over.

But I heard stories.

And I wanted to be like Dad.

Growing up, we were always playing something together.

Water volleyball in our pool.

Wiffle ball in our backyard.

Basketball on our driveway.

Here’s the thing, though.

He never let me win.

I’d get within a point or two, and miraculously he’d score.

Game over.

I didn’t know it at the time.

But it was all staged.

Dad would go easy on me at first, giving me a taste of success.

But when I got close, he’d turn it up.

And if I started acting cocky, he’d really turn it up!

When I ask him about it today, he claims he let me win sometimes.

But I don’t remember winning.

What I do recall is wanting to beat him so bad.

Asking him to play just 1 more game.

Practicing on my own to finally beat him next time.

Those games taught me a lot.

It built character.

Resilience.

It stretched my abilities.

What does this mean for us as business leaders?

Many of us have tendencies to over-intervene when we think employees are wrong.

We believe we’re helping.

But in the long run, we’re holding them back.

Instead, we should be creating a culture that accepts mistakes.

Experience is a better teacher than words.

Failure is a necessary part of innovation.

Without it, there can be no meaningful growth.

Those games with Dad helped me grow.

They shaped who I’d eventually become.

I still have that autographed photo.

The message on it is simple but profound.

“Go and get it.”