Episode 05
A CONVERSATION WITH BART LONGSON
BART LONGSON | MASTERING BUSINESS AND THE NFL
“Competence is how good you are when there is something to gain. Character is how good you are when there is nothing to gain. People will reward you for competence. But people will only love you for your character.”
In my podcast with Bart Longson, we had the opportunity to talk about his dual career paths—one working in the real estate and financing world, and the other in the NFL. And one of the things I admire the most about this man is his ability to be kind and authentic, even during the stressful situations that inevitably arise in both of those careers.
We discussed how just being yourself and being likable can open up great opportunities for your career and future. Bart was able to get investors into some of his businesses purely because they knew his character and trusted his work ethic, and he was also able to grow a side career officiating NFL games simply because he was true to himself.
I’ve seen the fruits of this simple practice as well. I’ve had people agree to do business with me not because I brought any special skills to the table, but purely because I was authentic and they liked me as a person. Isn’t that crazy?
So often in the world of business and sports, we get caught up in the race of trying to beat our competitors and dominate the game. While competitiveness can bring great drive and energy to an organization, just being friendly and being yourself—your best self—can yield major results.
Bart shared about how during one game Tom Brady (whom he had never met before), took a second to ask him about his wife and kids. While this didn’t change the way Bart officiated the game, he did gain respect for Tom and his professionalism and sincerity. A lot of players either ignore or disrespect the officiators, so seeing that kind of energy from Tom was really impressive.
If you strive to be authentic, be a friend to those around you, and take a sincere interest in their lives and family, then the success you want will come naturally to you. That is the winner's mindset.
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MY TOP 5 INSIGHTS FROM THIS EPISODE:
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Momentum is a HUGE factor in business success. Sometimes you’ll reach a plateau in your company and you’ll have absolutely no idea what to do moving forward—but if you just continue to move forward the best you can, trying things and innovating along the way, then doors will open up for you that you never could have dreamed of. Remember: You never get anywhere by standing still.
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Whether it’s in sports, business, relationships, etc, we like people who like us and show interest in our lives. If you can take the time to learn someone’s name, as well as ask them about their wife and kids, and just take a genuine interest in them as a person, then it will pay you back tenfold.
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The role of a CEO is to build the right culture and the right executive team. We all know that having the right company culture is vital to its success, however, if you as the leader are not taking adequate time to define what the culture is, as well as build an executive team that will uphold it, then it will crumble. So build strong a culture, and build a strong exec team that will protect that culture at all costs.
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Treat everyone as equals. Avoid being a “respecter of persons”. The most successful people I know are kind to everyone. A great example in my life is Todd Pedersen, who treats a gas station attendant the same way he treats experts on Wall Street. Just be a friend to everyone, and avoid talking down to people. Others will notice and respect you for that.
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There is power in apologizing. It doesn’t matter if you’re a high-level executive or a small entrepreneur just starting your journey—we will all have moments where things get rough and we show more of our ugly side. But if you can practice humility and always apologize sincerely for your mistakes, then your relationships will grow stronger and your reputation will grow massively. People who apologize are likable and easier to trust.