The secret sauce
As a teenager, I played soccer and basketball. I was never the best — and that’s not self-deprecation.
Just yesterday, I told a few coworkers during a meeting that my calling cards were shooting three-pointers and taking charges. For those less familiar with basketball, that combo probably won’t win many games.
My dad, like many dads, always said, “You can’t coach height.” Spoiler alert: I didn’t have that either. In fact, I was so small my teammate Colette (see photo) began calling me “Shorty” during my debut season in eighth grade, a nickname still used 20 years later by friends back home.
Like my dad, I remain convinced the intangibles make all the difference. Unlike height, however, many of them can be learned and practiced over time. They can be coached, but they can’t be forced.
Whenever I get the chance to share about the team I am building at Cintas, I talk about the secret sauce.
It’s a simple recipe, and it’s actually not a secret:
Adaptability
Clarity
Empathy
Humility
Helping people navigate change doesn’t require a particular background or technical skillset. It boils down to what you say and how you say it — truth and grace.
I don’t get it right every time, but even practice can be fun.
For Cintas partners coming to Cincy next week for the Value Improvement Initiatives summit, I can’t wait to see you and talk more about the sauce!