I read an article this week criticizing the Detroit Lions’ dominating win against the Jaguars on Sunday, with the final score coming it at 52-6. Some of the criticism is that the head coach has no class (after beating the Cowboys 47-9). Another NFL player stated, “I think they try to embarrass people”. There was criticism about leaving starting players in to play until the fourth quarter. In short, people are telling the Lions they should be pulling their punches.
Those that know the Lions know the legacy, and it’s a legacy of losing. Every week this season they are breaking new records because they’ve been that bad, for that long. Head coach Dan Campbell knows this from first-hand experience, being a former Lions player during the 2008 season where the record was 0-16. Meaning 0 games were won by the Lions that year.
I pulled some stats from previous years so I could compare some of the blowout games where the Lions were on the losing end. At no time did teams ever pull their punches when playing against the losing Lions.
2008 – Lions lost to Saints 7-42, Titans 10-47
2009 – Lions lost to Ravens 3-48
2020 – Lions lost to Buccaneers 7-47
2021 – Lions lost to Eagles 6-44
2023 – Lions lost to Ravens 6-38
This was Carlton Davis’ response to the criticism, “If people have a problem with what we’re doing or complaining about it, then they can just come out here and play better football.”
This is a fascinating concept to apply to the business world. If you’re doing really well, better than your competitors, you should pull your punches. Tamp down your success. Don’t embarrass them and make them feel bad. And it matters 0% that you’ve had your tough times, put in the work, and are now successful. Have some class.
If you find yourself in a conversation where you are being asked to downplay your success, or being criticized for your accomplishments, the very first thing that should pop up in your mind is:
This isn’t about me. This is about them. What someone else thinks about me is none of my business.
The criticism of the Lions by other NFL players, by reporters, and even washed up former politicians actually has nothing to do with the Lions or Coach Campbell. It’s about how they feel about themselves or their teams.
It’s obviously less common in the business world than the world of professional sports, but it does happen. Some industries, like title insurance, have a lot of exposure to their competition. Your success can be interpreted by your number of employees, the car you drive, the conferences you attend, or your shiny LinkedIn posts announcing professional milestones. Some will validate you, root for you, encourage you to keep climbing, keep winning, keep your gas pedal down. Others will be silent, or too loud in rooms you’re not in.
I won’t pretend other’s opinions don’t affect me, despite me opining that it isn’t about me. Family members that let out exasperated sighs when I get excited about a new project or mention that I’m traveling for another conference. Colleagues that ask when I find time to sleep. Friends who have just stopped asking about work altogether. In turn, I’ve become overly sensitive to perceived criticism, even when the intentions are good. The people pleaser in me never wants to ruffle any feathers. Do well, but not too well. If others aren’t doing as well as you, stay quiet.
“Well you want to win the game. That’s number one,” Campbell said. “What you don’t want to do is you get in one of those [situations] and you’re up, and then you decide you’re gonna let off the gas… and then they mount a comeback.”
But our careers aren’t a professional sport, where there is only one final champion. One person’s success doesn’t take away from someone else’s ability to achieve the exact same level. The game is success/fulfillment/happiness in your life. The “they” mounting a comeback is complacency, getting comfortable, not constantly adapting and improving. It’s not another person or company in your industry. We aren’t competing against each other. So don’t let off the gas, don’t pull any punches.
The most important realization I got out of comparing this criticism to the professional world is this: you have 100% control over which team you play for. If you are inspired by someone’s success, join their team. That doesn’t mean quit your job and try to work at the same company. It means reaching out, making those connections, seeing if there’s a way you can work together. I was recently introduced to Emma Leigh Maciazek virtually and then we both attending the Women’s Leadership Summit (WLS) earlier this month. From the moment we sat down together, I was inspired by her energy, confidence, and kindness. I immediately wanted to be on her team. I didn’t want to compare my successes to her own, I didn’t want to compete with her. I wanted to ally myself with her. The thing about teams is you need a variety of players, specializing in different areas. Even players in the same position bring something different to the game. There’s no need to pull punches when we’re all playing for the same team.
