It's Not What You Sell, It's What You Stand For.......

.....is the title of a great business book written by Roy Spence, co founder of GSDM. The title occurred to me while reading about the resurgence of the Phoenix Suns. The Suns just swept the San Antonio Spurs, their long time nemesis to advance to the NBA Western Conference Finals. In an interview with Jonathan Abrams of the NY Times today, Grant Hill and Steve Nash talk about how team togetherness enabled the team to finally get over the hump and overcome the Spurs after being knocked out of the playoffs by them five times since 1997.

When Hill first entered the league, he sensed that "team commitment and unity was not quite the same on the professional level." Eventually by watching certain teams like the Spurs flourish, he became convinced that team unity could make a difference in the NBA. According to both Hill and Nash, the Suns improved dramatically this season in large part because they became a close knit unit. "We're not the most talented team, said Nash, but we believe in each other."

Abrams hit the nail on the head when he commented that "while NBA teams with subpar chemistry and star athletes can succeed, good chemistry can probably pole vault other clubs to greater heights." Most of the top teams in the NBA have a superstar, but to actually win the title everyone, including the superstar, must buy into the importance of fulfilling a role for the team.

What should kids and parents take away from this post? Well simply that certain pro franchises are first and foremost about "what they sell" and others prioritize "what they stand for"......winning. And while it's fine to be entertained by the Cowboys and Mavericks, hopefu;lly kids are being encouraged to emulate the team ethic displayed by teams like the Suns.