“When you play, never mind who listens to you.” -Robert Schumann

It wasn’t until 1997 when I saw my first professional sports game. I’m not including the few innings of a Scranton-Wilkes Barre Red Barons game I’d gone to because I read a couple books, or a drive or two of the New York football Giants when my brother had it on.

See, my parents weren’t big into sports. They laughed at the idea of people running around a field chasing a ball. They’d pick on my brother for following the Mets, and they jeered at any mention of the idea of sports.

Maybe that’s why I didn’t show interest.

It wasn’t until 1997 that my interest peaked. I can’t explain it. My brother was in the army, and at school they were making a big to-do about who would win the Super Bowl: the Packers or the Patriots.

This kid I couldn’t stand was rooting for New England, so guess who I decided to root for?

I remember running home that night and asking my mom if I could watch the game. Once she was done giving me her snark, she realized that I was serious. She bought me soda and chips, and now I was committed!

The plays, the athleticism, the coaching was all lost on me then. All I recognized was that Brett Favre was a hero, and Green Bay won. I can remember Reggie White sacking Drew Bledsoe.

It would be atleast another decade before I missed a Super Bowl.

My love for sports grew. I followed in my brother’s foot steps in following the Giants. They thanked me for my loyalty with two Super Bowl victories over guess who? The Patriots.

By the time the Patriots lost to the Giants a second time, I started to realize how much I’d missed routing solely for one team, and bashing the rest... I didn’t begin following sports until Jordan stopped playing, and the stars of the 90’s were retired or broadcasting..

I never appreciated the stars like Troy Aikman or John Elway. They either played before I cared or for a team I despised.

But now it’s different.

I now recognize that it’s not about team identity or brand. You can celebrate a great CEO, even if it’s for a competitor. Competition in itself fuels what I aim for... greatness.

I will never be Lebron James, but I can always strive to be the best I can be.

How do we support this culture in our companies? Is the lower ceiling limiting each employee’s willingness to strive for their greatness, or are we as leaders missing the opportunity to cheer them on?