Things we can all learn from Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin, the NBA phenom, is seemingly more popular than Tim Tebow. Turn on any sports channel, your local station, or heck - even a White House press briefing - and you'll hear "Lin-sanity" running wild.

Granted, success stories about athletes coming out of nowhere to take their sport by storm are not unprecedented (Tom Brady, Fernando Valenzuela, Mark Fidyrch), but none have been so compelling while in such a media-accessible era. So what is it about this "overnight success" that takes us from zero-to-fixated in no time? Regardless of your life circumstance, Jeremy Lin demonstrates some timeless truths applicable to any team endeavor:

• Persistence wins out - eventually
  
  Or, the harder you work, the luckier you get
  
  Pithy aphorisms aside, there is value to hard work and sticking it out, regardless of the perceived outcome. Persisting is akin to a faith walk; while you cannot be sure how things will turn out, the discipline of developing a skill or mastering a craft is its own reward. And insightful leaders know they need to be good learners first; which leads to ...
  
  
• Be(ing) prepared for the unexpected
  
  If there is a precedent to the Lin story it is Kurt Warner. His readiness to play, poise in the pocket, and mental toughness allowed him to succeed in a seemingly hopeless circumstance, with his team ultimately winning the biggest game of all. Clearly Lin has not yet turned his proverbial rags into the riches of winning a trophy or league MVP. In fact, his team's record is (only) a remarkable .500. Yet because of his sticktuitiveness, he has proven himself ready and able to step in and deliver on the big stage.
  
  
• Humility breeds loyalty
  
  Can a person be competitive and selfless?
  
  Granted, what catapulted Lin-sanity into the media stratosphere was his game-winning three point shot against the Toronto Raptors. But his team's belief in him - and his centeredness - is equally evident after the game.
  
  Knowing a leader is willing to give credit to others, and show trust in his or her team members, empowers people to be their best. Although people will follow a superhero for a time, being a team-centric player makes others better.
  
  
• Confidence compounds itself
  
  Taking stock of past successes inspires confidence. And for a team with confidence, challenges unite rather than divide.
  
  
• Don't overlook a diamond in the rough
  
  Mike Lupica once said a large budget will buy you everything but the heart and soul of a champion. The irony for the Knicks is the best player on the team over the last two weeks is not the superstar they traded for in the offseason; it was the one who fell into their lap, and slipped through the fingers of several other teams in the process.
  
  Put another way, spending money on big name free agents can bring value, but the best fit for your team is often the one you develop.
  

Things we can all learn from Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers has been in the business of helping people live a healthier life for over 40 years. In that time it has produced numerous testimonials and noteworthy innovations in the field of weight loss, dieting and healthy eating.

But even if you are fit, healthy, eating well or even apathetic, several axioms hold true across any endeavor:

• Start with a goal or target
  
  In Weight Watchers, you start with a target weight loss (e.g., 30 pounds). To achieve this (without specific regard to a timeline) you are given a daily "budget": x points per day that represent a target calorie intake. If you meet (but do not exceed) the intake level over the course of a week, you are poised to burn more calories than you consumed.
  
  In life, you need to know where you're going to be successful (you define your own success). Dreams are important, but you need a tangible result in mind to move forward. Goals are your vehicle to getting where you want to go.
  
  Your first goal is strategic: where do I want to be in a year? What you must do to accomplish that goal is tactical: how will I get there?
  
  
• Write things down
  
  "If you don't write it down, it never happened."
  
  You learn about yourself when you journal. Knowing your "budget" or "plan" limits helps to hold yourself accountable to your goals.
  
  
• If you work the system, the system works
  
  Success is in the details, and the details are in the plan of action. When you stick to the script, you stay on target. Diligence brings focus.

• Learn, and share, the art of failure
  
  The writer of the book of James says we all stumble in many ways. In any group environment such as Weight Watchers, the safety and accountability is in knowing people have similar stories.
  
  
• Creativity abounds in safe company
  
  When you have a group of people you can be open and honest with, you can explore challenges in a more meaningful way. And you open yourself to more creative thought than you might otherwise.
  
  
• Confession is good for the soul
  
  Sometimes we just need to vent our spleen. To share what's on our mind and know we're safe doing it.
  
  
• Three simple words: "So do I."
  
  Best of all is when we know the people we're being vulnerable with can identify with our circumstances.