Lessons that forge excellence are all around us. Our mentors see them. When we see through their lenses, they lift us into spaces of inspiration and give us tools to sharpen our skills. They shape our confidence and resolve to innovate and deliver breakthrough performances. Looking at life lessons through our mentors’ lenses, we can grow us in limitless dimensions beyond our imagination.
I am speaking of one of my heroes, Jim Keil, one of 10 children from a modest-means devout Irish Catholic home, who rose to the top spot, President of Xerox’s most technologically advanced and most profitable division when Xerox was a Fortune 50 global giant.
Jim wanted to make a mark in the world. Unable to afford college, he enlisted in the Army and went off to the second world war in Japan. Upon his return, he attended college on the Galvanized Iron (GI) Bill. At war, he observed that the top commanders were scholars of strategy and tactics. They learned from their enemies and from the soldiers on the ground. They were alert and agile and they constantly compared updated notes to win battles. Jim embraced this lesson which became one of the many practices that powered his larger-than-life persona among professionals and personal friends alike.
Jim had the aura of authentic confidence around him. He stood erect and tall and spoke without hesitation. He was impeccably dressed and his voice was polite but crisp. His handshake was firm and he shot straight through your eyes to spot any spec of fear or doubt or to find reassuring warmth and confidence. His faith, that he was doing what was right, and he had come prepared to the best of his ability made him reach for excellence and gave him an air of fearlessness.
Jim’s home values had faith, honesty, and hard work. Their lives had no goings and comings with either highly educated or exceptionally bright or wealthy members of society. He had made up his mind to make something of value of his life and looked at life as a learning laboratory. He had created success, drive, ambition, and determination in his headspace. Wherever he found them and whomever could teach him lessons to improve, he chased knowledge and wisdom.
Jim Keil had 34 role models at one point in life. When you are watching so many people play out their best games, where is the time to be confused or deflated?
The 34 people he followed were top performers in five categories:
Generals.
Having served in the military, he watched how generals instilled disciplined and how they ignited strength and courage in young men who were on the front lines of a life-and-death war. He wanted to transfer what worked in war to the corporate environment even as the human resources folks sometimes scoffed at Jim’s commanding style. No one at the top objected however because his business innovation, customer satisfaction, and profit metrics exceeded expectations.
Athletes.
Jim was a competitive man who knew that to earn respect, you have to rise to the top. He studied athletes and watched carefully, how they prepared physically and mentally. How they competed to score and when they prioritized passing the ball to win the match for the team. He wanted healthy competition on his teams, one that promoted full effort but not one that was cutthroat that diminished team results. He spoke to the athletes about their practice and preparation plans and balancing their individual and team results. Personal bests made athletes marketable and team bests elevated the team brand. Jim explored how he could promote his managers and also keep the overall company healthy and strong.
Sports Coaches.
Coaches train very competitive athletes who want to be on the top. They practice hard and hone their skills to command massive payouts. Athletes are some of the richest celebrities and they have egos to match. From coaches, he learned how they keep players motivated to excel individually to extract full potential, collaborate with teammates, and design innovative plays to exceed competition. How not to let an athlete become too big for the team’s morale and when to lift up the player when having a tough go at the matches.
Business Moguls.
Jim wanted to learn how business leaders managed their organizations while balancing progress, compensation, recognition, performance management, and teamwork. He learned from not just the shining stars but also from fallen heroes. Sharply focused on results, he incorporated long term growth strategies but was also agile to pick up new employees from competition or develop tactical offers for fast profits.
Politicians.
Jim followed the first four categories to emulate their thinking patterns. This last category he studied to learn how “not to behave” and fall through high standards in personal integrity and professional responsibility. He watched carefully, how politicians spoke when running for office and when they came up short. He watched the politicians to learn what not to do.
When you are learning, you live in enthusiastic, motivational, and intellectual circles far above the drudgery of conflict, feeling of being boxed-in, and living like a lone-ranger in isolation and darkness.
Instead, you live a life in fascination of how to ignite that restless passion fuel for progress, solving problems, learning stories of others’ struggles, and seeing how others came through dark tunnels or if they did not.
Yes. It costs money to invite someone to a popular event, or to host a nice dinner, or to pay someone to speak at an event, or to sponsor an event. It takes effort to dress up appropriately and show up.
The time, energy, effort, and and investment in learning from role models is not just for improved performance. It is a down payment to find a lifetime connection with someone whose values you admire and share. You are laying a solid foundation for an amazing life.
If it lifts you up to think of your challenges differently and discuss your concerns or clear your doubts, what’s a little or more money, time, or energy spent in relation to the enthusiasm and confidence you can draw from knowing your heroes?
When Jim died at the age of 95, he left behind many eyes moist in admiration, warm hearts glowing from inspiration, and energetic steps with a spring of enthusiasm.
Jim lives on in stories and like mine and the impact he has had on not just me but all to whom I can inspire to live in Jim’s style of inviting teachers from all spheres and lessons from all those striving to be their best.
Money, anyone can earn. Honor is worthy of life, they say in the desert villages of India. Jim embodied this age-old universal wisdom in his life. Honor is what he attained by reaching for the highest lessons of performance and practices from his role models.
Create your list of people who inspire you and look to inviting them to go for a hike, or to buy them a ticket to an event, treat them to a great lunch or dinner, or to take them to a match when their favorite team is playing in town or away.
As is the case with all my work. I share it to bring inspiration to life. Share it with someone who needs to hear this message.
About this series.
About this series:
In this series, I will share practical realities of mentors and mentoring dynamics. What you can expect and how you should behave. What a mentor can help with and what are the boundaries. What role mentors can play in your professional progress and life growth. How to get mentors and how to work with them. What kind of mentors you need and should have.