FROM THE BLEACHERS-736
BY DR. JACK WELCH
Aim for the Stars, Even If You Miss
As I was visiting with my friend David Bailiff last week, we started talking about energy in the workplace, specifically the kind that employees bring to their jobs and the expectations leaders place on them. Do employers truly want people who think creatively and go above and beyond, or do they only want individuals who follow the job description word for word?
David and I agreed: any employer would rather have employees you have to pull down out of the stars than those you have to kick in the tail just to get out of the chair. We’ve all heard the sayings: “Aim for the stars and you might reach the moon,” and the opposite, “Shoot low, Sheriff, I’m riding a Shetland.” Both philosophies exist in the workplace. One pushes people to innovate; the other encourages them to play it safe and avoid taking chances. The mindset employees adopt has everything to do with the culture employers create. Here’s the truth: playing it safe has never produced greatness.
Some employees make very few mistakes but never do anything extraordinary. Others slip up occasionally but bring creativity and fresh ideas. When both can handle the basic expectations of the job, any wise employer chooses the one who takes initiative, even if it means they fail sometimes. Failure is often proof that someone is trying.
At the same time, employers must lead with vision. They must evaluate what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change. When results lag, doing the same thing over and over leads to stagnation. Progress requires new direction, calculated risks, and the courage to break old patterns.
I once served as a junior college head football coach and will never forget a conversation with one of my sophomore players. He shared his big goals, becoming All-Conference and earning a major college scholarship. At the time, he was a second-team guard. I told him his chances were slim, but encouraged him to work hard for his goals. He did much more than that.
When he returned for fall camp, he whipped every defensive lineman on our team. He earned the starting job, became All-Conference, and signed with a four-year university. What I later learned is that he had been discouraged after our meeting, but his position coach, Tracy Welch, talked to him and said, “Coach told you where you are, not what you can be. If you want those goals, shoot for the stars, and work to accomplish your dream.”
That’s exactly what he did. This is the kind of drive employees need and the kind of belief employers must cultivate. Let’s not limit each other by focusing on obstacles. Excellence requires effort, risk, and vision, from both sides of the relationship.
Thought for the week, “Greatness never comes from comfort. Aim high, take risks, and encourage others to do the same. Even if you miss the mark, the climb will make you stronger.” Joe Welch, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Kingsville I.S.D.
Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.