SkyWater Search Partners’ Post

As the second official Annual General Meeting of the Cleves Sport Group approaches, we can't help but reflect on the whirlwind journey which has brought us to this point. What started as a simple idea - to get some washed up athletes back together to scratch that competitive itch - has grown into a fully-fledged community. Cleves now spans multiple sports across myriad leagues, but what continues to define us (and unite us) are our core values: Community, Leadership, Energy, Veracity, and Empathy. CLEVE. Undoubtedly, there have been bumps along the way; and undoubtedly there will be several more to come. However, when we look out and see the collection of incredible individuals who now proudly call themselves Cleves, we are more confident than ever that our organization will continue going from strength to strength. We may have gotten the ball rolling, but the idea of Cleves has taken hold, and it is now a self-sustaining enterprise. And we could not be more proud. Once a Cleve, always a Cleve. - Evan, Max, and Esteban

Are we responsible for our own success? This is one of the most enduring questions for historians. Do we determine the course of events or are we swept along by complex factors beyond our control? The answer probably lies somewhere in between. Take #davidbeckham, for example. His mother was a hairdresser and his father a humble kitchen fitter. David’s spectacular rise from a working class childhood in London’s east end to England’s #football captain is laid bare in the new #netflix docuseries, #beckham. Described as a “showman on and off the pitch”, Beckham reached dizzying heights of success with a mixture of innate talent and conscious determination. In school, David insisted he wanted to grow up to be a footballer, ignoring the dismissals of his teachers. As he rose through the footballing ranks his ever-changing hair became the “perfect symbol of the cult of personality”, influencing a generation of young boys across the country (see Lauren O’Neill’s @Guardian review: https://bit.ly/40lZpfY) The documentary, co-written by David and his wife, #victoriabeckham, also explores the role of his parents in spurring him on. His father’s insistence on constant training in their back garden and his determination to see his son succeed on the pitch was a huge factor in David’s stellar football career. Here at Cardiff & Vale Tutors, we understand that parental guidance is a key ingredient to success. As a mother myself, part of the reason why I became an examiner was to help my son with exam technique! We welcome parents’ involvement at every stage of the pupil’s tuition journey. At the beginning, parents are invited to arrange an introductory session to ensure that our tutor is a good fit for their child. Then, as they progress, our tutors remain in regular contact with parents, sharing reports after each lesson as feedback and exploring routes to further progression. So why not head over to our website and see how we can help your child succeed? Your commitment and support helps us to achieve better results together! #individualsuccess #parentalsupport #cardiffbusiness #cardiff #successmindset #success #football #rugby

We are not a family. We are more like a professional sports team. It's an interesting paradigm shift. But, I believe, an appropriate one. I always cringe a bit when I hear leaders describe their culture like a family. Let's be honest. Would you take 9 months off work to care for a sick co-worker? In most cases, no way. You may contribute to a fund to support their care. Or show other signs of support. But YOUR family comes first. And we reserve those types of measures for family. So, let's call it what it is. It is far more akin to a professional sports team. A group of (hopefully) high performing, well compensated professionals assembled to achieve one common goal. We practice. We watch tape (figuratively speaking). We rely on each other. We support each other. We have expectations of each other. We take care of ourselves, so we can be there for each other. We win together. And yes, we sometimes lose together. We are not family. We are a professional sports team. When you unlock this mentality amongst the group, things really start to happen. Reed Hastings & Patty McCord penned Netflix's cultural manifesto several year's ago. It changed the way many think about culture in the Silicon Valley, and across the world. If you have not read it, it's is definitely worth taking the time to do so. https://lnkd.in/gPp6DKqu

See the video below. Reed Hastings says "Hire like a Sports Team." I'll take it a step further. Most definitely, but make sure it's like Moneyball. As most people have learned "we're a family" is code for "we're not going to pay you." Another common refrain is "We need Rock Stars." Neither of these have ever worked, ever, and this is why. When you hire family you expect lifetime dedication with no pay. Your benefits are temporary. As for the rock stars, well, I've worked with them and let's just say they are really good but a lot to manage. In fact at one company their "rock star" became so difficult to control that they had to let them go because they assumed the lifestyle and attitude of an actual real life rock star. The damage done before they were finally shown the door almost derailed the product. It is true that hiring in today's business world is no different than hiring for a professional sports team. The problem you can run into however is that while having a LeBron or Jordan on the team is great, having five of them won't get you very far. Sure, you can have the dream team for a short time but eventually everyone will be vying for the spotlight and nothing gets done. This is why you want the Moneyball approach. Don't just look for one trait. Look for the right combination of strengths and weaknesses that can be leveraged to ensure success. Team cohesion is key to any business success. If all you're doing is managing egos then works not getting done. Hiring the right combination of people is good business both professionally, and economically. Rock Stars can be good to be sure, but it's the band that makes them look that way. #hiring #teamcollaboration #leadership #management

Now is the time, today is the day. As you stop to evaluate your current satisfaction level with your F&B provider, ask yourself, in an honest moment, is my current F&B provider truly doing everything possible to meet the needs of my clients, my customers, my organization? Do you feel completely confident that your business operation is in the most capable hands possible, and that your expectations are in total alignment with the entire team? If you answer no or maybe to any of those questions, we should chat. That is where we come into play. Total alignment, a complete partnership where you steer the ship. It is our job to make your organization shine, thrive and succeed. You communicate your vision to us, and we make that happen in a true partnership experience. We are growing, we are expanding, we are offering enhanced services across numerous operation in the F&B industry including minor league professional baseball, hockey, college and university athletics, convention centers, MLB, and major professional sports venues. We offer a complimentary evaluation, a complete and thorough analysis and if we cannot help or assist your organization, we will tell you truthfully that we cannot help. https://lnkd.in/eWWvVV2P Check us out, make the call and find out why our partners are raving fans and how we can help make your organization shine too. #letsgo #strengthandhonor #thebestinthebusiness #totalfocus #

Another great local business story for County Wicklow. If you're wondering how the Local Enterprise Office can support your business, take a look at this article on their Trading Online Voucher Scheme https://lnkd.in/ebDAPp-T #localbusinesssuccess #Localenterpriseoffice #smallbusinesssuccess

The power of emotional connection in leadership! Coach Prime models what emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity looks like in the athletic space. Sometimes we lead from a place that only serves us but missing the key element of the one receiving the information. Don’t connect just to connect, connect to inspire and unleash greatness in whoever you encounter today. #leadership #emotionalintelligence #sports #strategist #familytherapy #empowerment #focus

Sometimes our progress is masked in failure. Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffalos continue to give us great opportunities to teach life through sport. Yes, Colorado fell short of another opportunity this weekend against a highly ranked team. The goal was to win and they failed. But if we solely focus on the outcome, we miss all of the progress. They played well, not good enough but better. They competed at a high level, high enough to win, even though they didn’t. Results can be deceiving. Sometimes we are rewarded despite our behavior. Sometimes we aren’t rewarded, even when our behavior says we should be. We can’t let immediate outcomes get in the way of our progress, or fool us from the truth. Focus on the behavior and the results will come. #ontheball #process #progress #personaldevelopment #professionaldevelopment

Sports Business Journal colleagues and I went deep on LEARFIELD's financial situation and the process it undertook to avoid bankruptcy. That would have been an easier and quicker path, but Learfield CEO Cole Gahagan chose a different path, one that centered on a handful of awkward, in-person meetings with ADs at schools that had some of the underwater contracts Learfield agreed to in the mid-2010s. Please take a look at this story, which I think is especially pertinent in this era of immense private equity interest in the sports world and the growth, growth, growth (at almost any cost) ethos that is strong as ever in the business world, generally: https://lnkd.in/gfA6-BJQ

How often do you ponder the true essence of belonging? In a world where the boundaries of exclusivity and inclusivity often intersect, the desire to feel at home in this ever-evolving world resonates deeply. The recent developments at Garrick Club, underscore the evolving dynamics of exclusive memberships. The decision to move towards inclusivity after 193 years reflects broader societal shifts and the quest for meaningful belonging. At ONDA, our mission is to redefine clubs as more than physical spaces; they are sanctuaries where individuals driven by shared passions and missions come together. It's a vision of connection, exploration, and purpose, perfectly aligned with modern explorers seeking authentic and meaningful encounters. My journey with the concept of belonging began during the early ‘80s when I accompanied my grandfather to Circolo la Vela in Sicily and later discovered the Circolo della Conversazione, a 17th-century "Club of Conversation". These experiences revealed that private members’ clubs have their own identities and purpose, representing much more than mere spaces. Understanding the challenges and opportunities they face today is at the core of ONDA's ethos. The commitment to embody a paradigm shift led us to the launch of Clubs Love, offering advisory to support clubs navigate the intricate nuances of this industry, from conception to operation and beyond. Let’s build spaces that resonate with the heart and soul of every member, creating lasting connections and unforgettable experiences, together. #ONDAExperience #ClubsLove #FutureOfMembersClubs #Inclusivity https://lnkd.in/eh_jzc_H