Sweep The Sheds

New Zealand’s national rugby team, the All Blacks, is one of the most decorated sports teams in human history. Since their inception in 1903, the All Blacks have eclipsed 500 total wins all while sporting an unfathomable winning percentage of 77.41%. In other words, they’ve been on a hot streak since the First World War.

Now I could sit here and list all their accomplishments and accolades amassed on the field of play but what is far more interesting about this rugby club is how they operate off the field. Author James Kerr goes into great depths in his book titled Legacy about the processes and beliefs that make the All Blacks so successful, but one has always stood out among the rest:

“Character triumphs over talent.”

For the All Blacks they understand, much like legendary UCLA Basketball coach John Wooden did, that “winning takes talent but to repeat it takes character.” The character of the players supersedes their talent because the individual can only be as successful as the collective. The pinnacle character trait for these men is HUMILITY and never is this more apparent than when you take a look at who sweeps the sheds.

On most teams there are janitors or rookie members of the team who are required to clean the locker room (shed) after a match, however for the All Blacks that job is reserved for the most senior players of the team. Humility and personal discipline is why everyone on the team can fully trust one another on and off the field. That trust is why they win… all the time.

My question for us now is do we sweep our own sheds? In the whirlwind of success and money and acclaim, can we humble ourselves to still do the little things and remain disciplined? Because success is fleeting and inconsistent for those oozing with talent yet lacking in character. 

Let your values define your character and in turn your character will prove your value.