Guy Ciarrocchi: Four books and one story that changed everything

This spring, I re-read four books. Actually, they are four parts of a much larger Book. Having read them dozens of times, I read them again, listened to them being read again, and listened to others talk to me about them. 

It may have taken a lifetime, but I’m finally starting to get the message.

If I read them with just my former Chamber CEO “hat,” there would be a great deal to learn about leadership, team-building, branding, overcoming adversity, and turning defeat into victory. In a sense, it’s about forming a start-up when the market leader has a near monopoly — and never hesitates to kill the competition. There are many helpful messages in the story. Taken out of context, these are things one could learn at a “Ted talk.”

Lead by example. Find the talent of each member of your team. Consider assembling and sending out your sales team in pairs to maximize their impact. And, of course, make sure you have your successor lined up. 

Old-school servant leadership. Visionary leadership.

It’s also a story for employees — for team-members. Again, there are countless lessons if you read closely from that perspective.

Believe in what you are doing. Do not feel compelled to copy your colleagues; not everyone’s style is the same. Use your life’s experience to succeed. If you lack confidence, yet trust your leader, have faith that the leader has seen talent in you that you may not yet see in yourself. 

If I put on my political strategist “hat,” it’s like so many campaigns. At the start, you’re sitting with just the candidate and a message. Then you begin to build a team and recruit volunteers and supporters. Build alliances. Hone your message. Craft your messages for different audiences, while remaining “on message.” Eventually, the opposition pays attention to you, so you have to be on guard. And, if all goes well, there are bigger and bigger crowds and more people will want to get on board. 

And, of course, being part of something bigger than yourself.

It’s also about building your team with ordinary people — very ordinary people achieving extraordinary things. The supporting cast in the story consisted of ordinary people. Yet the ordinary people teach us many life lessons, too — after all, most of us are ordinary people. 

Reading the books with with my “coach’s cap,” there are lessons for me as a coach and for the players, too. Remember that the players on your team are people, too. They get scared, hungry and don’t always fully understand what you’re teaching. They appreciate compliments. They need clarity of messages and instructions. They will make errors. Yet, you know that there are some things that they’ll learn only by doing.

You teach teamwork, sacrifice — putting the team above yourself. 

If you read the Gospels — the four books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — as CEO guides, you would learn a great deal. And you would no doubt be a very effective leader. 

If you read them as a political candidate or party leader — especially challenging an incumbent or the majority party, you would learn a great deal. And you would no doubt build an effective, impactful campaign.

If you read the “good news” as a softball coach and follow the wisdom, you would no doubt get high grades for emotional intelligence and you would be a “players’ coach.” Players would run through a wall for you.

But the Gospels are not the foundation of teaching at Wharton or the Kennedy School of Government, nor are they included in the Little League coach’s guide. They were not written for those purposes.

They have a higher, more important, everlasting purpose. Those looking for purpose and timeless wisdom would do well to read the Gospels. Those looking for inspiration should be inspired by the works of the Apostles — these very ordinary and flawed men.

But, ultimately, if you hear the messages with your ears, your mind and your heart, you realize that the message is much more significant. And, if you embrace the message, the Gospels will change your life.

The Gospel of John in chapter 20 has Jesus’ message to Thomas — and, actually all of us.

“Jesus said to him, ‘Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.’”

The tomb was empty. Amen.

Guy Ciarrocchi is a commentator writing about politics, policy and culture. He writes for Broad + Liberty and RealClear Pennsylvania. Follow Guy at @PaSuburbsGuy.