All you really need to do is one thing…

My wife, Lesley, and I look at the calendar all the time. At least it feels like it’s all the time, but probably because yeah, it’s all_the_time.

Me: “Wow, this weekend already looks busy, but at least we’ll have some time next wee….oh….wait, nope, that looks busy, too.”
Les: “Maybe things will calm down a bit next month.”
Me: “Nope. We have that thing and that other thing and we still need to RSVP to that one thing.”
Les: “…”
Me: “…”
Both of Us: (Silently starting to realize that with three young boys, this isn’t a week-to-week thing, but rather how life will probably be for the next 18 years).

We knew these days would come, but saying that we were prepared is, well, a stretch. And by “a stretch,” I mean, “totally and completely inaccurate.”

That said, I was eager to volunteer to be an assistant coach for my 6YO’s co-ed soccer team, The Dragons. Practice every Sunday evening and a game every weekend. It’s been super fun. I don’t know much about soccer, but know just enough to seem like I know a lot to a bunch of first-graders. Whatever. I’ll take it.

But I learned something during the first practice a few weeks ago and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Here it is: the role of assistant coach becomes exponentially easier when you do just one, simple thing:

Learn all the kids’ names.

That’s it. Seriously. Learn their names. Just the first ones, even. It’s amazing what happens next: they instantly connect with you. You become someone that knows them and is trying to (desperately and often clumsily) teach them about sportsmanship, grit, and teamwork.

Learning their names was key. Everything else I do – like the unwarranted high-fives, the random yelling of “good hustle!” at no one in particular, and the acting like I know what I’m doing because I am holding a clipboard – is all extra.

Telling them to call me Coach V personalizes me, but knowing their names takes it a step further because it personalizes them.

. . .

I launched Magic Room Brand almost a year ago and having an engaging customer experience was a key pillar on which I built the brand from the very beginning. It’s one thing to define and shape how you want customers to perceive your brand, but it’s the extra steps you take to define how your brand perceives your customers that can differentiate you in a crowded space.

Learn their names.

My main goal is to create products that can be a part of people’s passions and lives – products that reflect who they are and what they stand for. If I want to continue to do this, and do it well, that costs money and revenue is a part of that, but a focus on the people will always be the first priority because it quite simply has to be.

We’ve arguably never lived in a time where it’s as important for people to treat each other like people.

It’s an idea that transcends business and impacts the social issues that have been swirling around lately – race, gender, political views, etc.

It’s easy to only focus on how others perceive you, but what if part of defining incoming perception is first defining outgoing perception?

TBD to see if that philosophy works, but first grade co-ed soccer seems like a good place to start.

Alright, hands in. 1-2-3. Gooooooo Dragons! ROAR!

#bewhatyoumake