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Guidance Redefines Our Way
Issue #71 - February 11, 2025
Welcome to G.R.O.W.
In the afterglow of Super Bowl Sunday, we're reminded that championship teams aren't built overnight – they're forged through dedication, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment to excellence. As the Philadelphia Eagles celebrate their historic victory, we're inspired to explore how the principles that drive athletic success translate to professional leadership and personal growth. At G.R.O.W. (Guidance Redefines Our Way), we believe that every individual has the potential to build and lead championship-caliber teams, whether in sports, business, or community service.
Let’s dive in……
Growth Spotlight: Beyond the Game - Super Bowl Leadership Lessons
The Super Bowl isn't just the pinnacle of athletic achievement; it's a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and team dynamics. This year's matchup showcased several key principles that resonate far beyond the football field:
Adaptive Leadership The ability to adjust strategies mid-game mirrors the flexibility required in today's dynamic business environment. Successful leaders, like championship-winning coaches, must-read situations quickly and pivot when necessary while keeping their teams focused and motivated.
Culture of Excellence Championship teams develop a culture where every member understands their role and is committed to the collective goal. This culture isn't built through grand gestures but through daily habits, consistent communication, and unwavering standards.
Performance Under Pressure The Super Bowl stage presents unique pressure, similar to high-stakes business situations. The teams that triumph have developed mental toughness through preparation, visualization, and strong support systems.
Take Action Now: Transform your military leadership experience into corporate success! Join A Few Good MENtors, Inc. board member and mentor Mark Cheeks, founder of Mark Cheeks Speaks, LLC. Mark applies battlefield-tested leadership principles to the corporate arena. As a veteran who's successfully navigated the military-to-corporate transition, Mark brings unique insights on building up your career. Click the image above.
Professional Growth Gateway: Building High-Performance Teams
Understanding team dynamics is crucial for success in any field. The DISC Assessment has emerged as a powerful tool for building and leading effective teams. Here's how you can leverage DISC principles to enhance team performance:
Understanding DISC Profiles:
Dominance (D): Direct, results-oriented leaders
Influence (I): Enthusiastic, collaborative team players
Steadiness (S): Patient, supportive stabilizers
Conscientiousness (C): Analytical, detail-focused contributors
Building Balanced Teams: Creating high-performance teams isn't about assembling the most talented individuals but finding the right mix of complementary strengths. Consider these strategies:
Identify the Current Team Composition
Assess your team's DISC profile distribution
Recognize potential blind spots and gaps
Leverage existing strengths
Strategic Recruitment
Target profiles that complement existing team dynamics
Create role descriptions that attract needed behavioral styles
Design interview processes that evaluate behavioral fit
Optimize Communication
Adapt leadership style to different DISC profiles
Create communication protocols that respect various work styles
Foster an environment where all profiles can thrive
Success Spotlight: Athletes Turned Business Leaders
Earvin "Magic" Johnson has transformed from NBA legend to one of America's most successful business leaders, demonstrating how championship principles translate to entrepreneurial success. Through Magic Johnson Enterprises, he's built an empire focused on bringing business excellence to urban communities.
Johnson's business portfolio showcases his ability to recognize opportunities and execute with precision:
Urban Development Pioneer:
Partnered with Starbucks to bring stores to underserved communities
Successfully developed movie theaters, restaurants, and retail centers in urban areas
Created thousands of local jobs through strategic business investments
Investment Strategy:
Made history with ownership stakes in the LA Dodgers and LA Sparks
Strategic partnerships with major brands, including Sodexo Magic food service
Successful investments in various industries, from healthcare to technology
Leadership Philosophy: Magic attributes his business success to principles learned on the basketball court:
Understanding team dynamics and putting people in positions to succeed
Reading opportunities like reading the court
Building trust through consistent performance and reliability
Focusing on underserved markets, just as he focused on getting all teammates involved in the game
His impact extends beyond profit margins - Johnson has become a powerful advocate for economic empowerment in urban communities, proving that business success and social responsibility can work hand in hand.
Community Corner: Life Pieces to Masterpieces - Building Tomorrow's Leaders Today
In the heart of Washington DC's Wards 7 and 8, an extraordinary mentorship program transforms young lives and creates positive change throughout our community. Life Pieces to Masterpieces, recently recognized with the "Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Violence Prevention Grant," exemplifies the profound impact of dedicated mentorship in youth development.
Success Story Spotlight: David Adams From a second-grade participant to a junior at Delaware State University, David Adams embodies the transformative power of consistent mentorship. "Life Pieces just surrounded me with people who had my best interests in mind," Adams shares. His journey didn't stop with personal success – he's now paying it forward by creating "Brothers in Power," a mentoring organization at Delaware State supporting first-generation college students.
Program Impact:
Creates safe spaces for Black and Brown boys and young men
Provides comprehensive after-school and summer programs
Surround youth with positive male and female role models
Builds lasting community connections
A Few Good MENtors, Inc. celebrates the vital work of Life Pieces to Masterpieces and their recent grant award. Their success in creating positive change aligns perfectly with our mission to empower young men in our community. As fellow advocates for youth mentorship in the DMV area, we're inspired by their approach and impact.
Director Andrew Blickle's vision of creating "a city that is happier, more hopeful, more peaceful" resonates deeply with our own mission. We look forward to exploring future opportunities to support and amplify each other's work in service to our community's youth.
Ready to make a difference? Join us for our New Mentor Training Course (NMTC 25-01) on February 22nd, where we'll discuss successful mentorship models and explore ways to create a lasting impact in young lives throughout the DMV area.
Upcoming Events
New Mentor Training Course (NMTC 25-01)
Date: February 25, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Who Should Attend: New and experienced AFGM Mentors
Focus: Enhanced mentorship techniques and best practices
Black Men's Mental Health Conference Coming to the DMV in September 2025
Stay tuned for detailed information
A groundbreaking opportunity for community connection and support
Special thanks to our sponsor: A Few Good MENtors, Inc. Supporting leadership development and community empowerment
Michael's Hot Take Corner
Welcome to a new chapter in our G.R.O.W. journey! Each week, I'll share my perspective on current events that matter to our community. As President and Founder of A Few Good MENtors and Editor of G.R.O.W., I believe that every headline carries a lesson in leadership, personal growth, or community impact. This corner is where we'll break down these stories together, extract their valuable insights, and discover how we can apply them to our own leadership and life journeys.
What you'll get each week:
The Facts: The key points you need to know
Between The Lines: My unfiltered perspective
Real Talk Takeaway: Leadership lessons we can all apply
Power Move of the Week: An actionable step for your growth
Let's dive into this week's hot take...
Hot Take: When Leadership Meets Justice
The Facts:
DOJ orders dismissal of corruption charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams
The decision cited the need for Adams to focus on city issues, not legal defense
Charges included allegations of illegal foreign influence and campaign finance issues
Former aide expected to plead guilty to related campaign finance violations
Between The Lines: Well, the "city that never sleeps" won't have to stay up nights wondering about this case anymore. When your get-out-of-jail-free card comes with a "focus on your day job" note, you know we live in interesting times. Remember when "cleaning up the city" meant something entirely different?
Real Talk Takeaway: This case highlights a crucial leadership lesson: accountability and public trust are the most valuable qualities in any leadership position. Whether charges stick or not, the mere perception of impropriety can damage your leadership effectiveness. Building your reputation on transparency and integrity from day one is much easier than rebuilding it later.
Power Move of the Week: Document everything. In leadership, your paper trail is your best friend or worst enemy. Make it your ally by maintaining clear records of decisions, interactions, and especially anything involving resources or finances. Your future self will thank you.
Closing Thoughts
As we reflect on the lessons from championship teams and successful leaders, remember that every great achievement starts with a vision and is realized through consistent effort and teamwork. Whether you're building a business team, mentoring youth, or pursuing personal growth, the principles of championship performance remain constant: clear goals, strong leadership, effective communication, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Together, we grow stronger. Together, we achieve more.
G.R.O.W. Newsletter is published weekly by A Few Good MENtors, Inc. For more information about our programs and initiatives, visit our website or contact us directly.