Peyton Place

I realize I might be losing some non-sports fans with this blog, but I find myself conflicted today. I don't know if I should be happy or cry about the Indianapolis Colts releasing Peyton Manning. In all the years watching him play as a stellar QB in the NFL, I have a tremendous amount of respect for him due to his life both on and off the field. And now, a team that he's won numerous championships and a Super Bowl for, and a team whose value has increased by $233 million (according to Forbes) since his arrival in 1998, is releasing him to finish his career elsewhere. It just doesn't feel right. Then again, football in America isn't just a sport, it's a business and I think we can all learn a few lessons from Colts owner, Jim Irsay, as he parts ways with a player he himself deeply loves and respects.

When you think about it, Peyton Manning is going to be in a good place wherever he goes simply because he is Peyton. I mean, when his brother Eli won the Super Bowl this year, one of the first questions he had to answer from the media was, "what did your brother Peyton say to you after you won?" Peyton's going to be just fine because he's a winner and will be celebrated in whatever city he lands in. But what about the Indianapolis Colts football team? After winning only two games this season, you have to hand it to the ownership for wanting to fix what was broken and doing that requires having to make the gutsy call and decision to let a legend and future Hall of Fame Quarterback go.

My wife Mary and I love to watch the TV show “Restaurant: Impossible”, where Chef Robert goes into a failing restaurant and totally revamps the place within 24 hours and only $10,000, helping the owners turn it to a successful enterprise. Every time I watch I think to myself what my life would look like if a Chef Robert stepped into my world. Would I have the guts and the drive to make the hard calls and decisions to change what needs to be changed in order to thrive? I'm not sure why, but sometimes our greatest hindrance to success is success, meaning our past success can cause us to settle into a comfortable place where it becomes almost impossible to even see we need to change. And when that happens, it's then easier in life to simply hope and pray things get better. Yes, the desire for improvement is present, but taking the necessary action to make the improvements doesn't always line up with the desire.

So maybe, even though we may not all be sports fans, we can learn from what's taking place in Indianapolis. Here's my take away from Jim Irsay's leadership:

1. It all begins at the top. When making improvements the desire must lead to a decision and that originates with the one at the top of the organization. Face it, if you don't want to change, no one can do it for you. Ownership means taking ownership, personally or corporately.

2. Real improvement requires making changes. Watch Chef Robert do his magic and you'll see how hard this is for those in the decision making position. It's easier to talk about change than it is to change. Who in their right mind would think about letting go of a legend? Only those who realize talk is cheap and that real change requires making difficult changes.

3. Improving means taking risks, for in order to reach higher heights one must let go of the familiar and grab hold of the unknown. To go higher, Irsay and the Colts will release a Super Star and sign a rising star to take his place, but there's no guarantee the new star will ever shine as bright as Peyton's star. And therein lies the problem with risk. It scares us because it doesn’t come with any guarantees.

4. Lastly comes the work...one of the only four letter words this generation doesn't use. I'm amazed at the work Jim Irsay has already put into improving his Colts. He started by letting go of his General Manager, Head Coach and now his All-Star QB. And you can bet the work has just begun, because having different means doing different.

I want the best for Peyton and the Indianapolis Colts. I also want the best for you. So here's the question: Is it time for a change? If so, follow Jim Irsay's lead and start building a Championship life today.

I'm a Dol-Fan and hope to see Peyton in the aqua and orange. How about you? Do you have any preference to where Peyton Manning plays football next year?