Growing moral and ethical leadership around the world

Written by Erik Manning, Managing Director of E2 Solutions, LLC

The OCMA was honored to have Steve Young as the guest speaker at March’s meeting, Mar 20, 2007. There were more than one hundred people in attendance at the Turnip Rose Restaurant in Newport Beach to hear him speak. Although many would have thought that he would mostly talk about his many accolades in the National Football League, he put a surprising twist to his speech by relating a few valuable football experiences to his post-football business ventures. As a Board Member to a few businesses and a valued partner at Sorenson Capital, Steve entertained the group with the trials and difficulties he now faces that are similar to ones he encountered on the football field. 

Twice Steve had to emerge from the depths of obscurity to be a lodestar on the gridiron by leaving indelible records in both the collegiate and NFL’s record books. However, as he explained, it came after much adversity as he followed the best quarterbacks at both levels.  Early in his collegiate career he faced the trial of a position change—he was moved from quarterback to defensive back. The quarterback’s coach didn’t like ‘running’ quarterbacks, which Steve excelled at, so he made Young a defensive back, frustrating Steve in the process. 

Determined to follow his gut instinct, Steve persisted by spending additional time after practice with fellow quarterbacks, working on his passing skills and learning the offense. It wasn’t until a new quarterback’s coach was hired the next season that he got his chance at quarterback. After being number eight on the quarterback depth chart, he saw and learned from Jim McMahon how to throw the ball, which added a threat to his talent as a player. Steve got his first start the year after arguably the best college quarterback, Jim McMahon, left for the NFL. 

Many people didn’t know Steve Young which, as Steve relates, could be heard while walking around BYU campus, as they compared a no-name to the venerable McMahon. He saw this situation as an opportunity to abate the concerns of BYU fans and prove to them and himself that he could be great. He knew he had the fortitude and talent, but he had to show it to the others. 

Needless to say, Steve quickly won his critics over. This lesson of persistence and determination has been applied numerous times to his business career as he has had to be humble and to learn new skills in making the transition from storied Hall of Fame quarterback to successful and terse businessman. 

The second time Steve was faced with adversity was at the San Francisco 49ers. He waited as a backup quarterback to arguably the best NFL quarterback, Joe Montana. Eventually, Montana finished his decorated career at San Francisco, left for Kansas City, and Steve’s chance had arrived. Now on a larger stage than in college, Steve once again had to prove himself to the league’s fans that he could maintain the team’s winning traditions. This challenge seemed difficult to many; however, Steve knew it was a time when he could seize the opportunity and shine.

While his fledgling career commenced in San Francisco, Steve had another challenge to overcome, his height. He was unable to see over the behemoth offensive lineman of the NFL, and a quarterback must be able to see his receivers on their pass patterns in order to know when to throw them the ball. Persevering through this issue by learning to trust that his receivers would be at the spot he had to throw to them while running their pass patterns, Steve rose to the occasion once again by being humble and learning an important lesson in life.

While at Atlanta for a game, Steve recalled his first experience. He threw to the hall of fame receiver Jerry Rice as he anticipated Jerry’s position on the field. His gut churned as he decided to throw to the position. The backs of his behemoth offensive lineman were the only thing he saw, but heard the quieting of the home town crowd after he released the ball. It was a perfect pass to Rice for a touchdown. This lesson enabled Steve to etch his name in the NFL record books and to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. 

In conclusion, Steve’s talk was about overcoming adversity and seizing the opportunity. These lessons have been applied to his business ventures as he has had to learn new skills and a new career, while many of his associates had many years of experience in the industry. As a neophyte to the business world, Steve remembered the valuable lessons he learned from the football field by applying them to these new challenges.

After winning the Super Bowl in 1995, he went to Disney World. While at Disney World, Steve learned another lesson while sitting next to Mickey Mouse on a parade car. Although the parade was for him and his teammates, for a moment he let himself believe that he was the man, but one child’s comment brought him back to reality. Two brothers were at the end of the parade line.  The younger brother turned to the older brother and said with exuberance, “It’s Mickey Mouse!  Let’s go touch him.” The older brother replied, “The big man next to him won’t let us.”

This meeting has helped me as managing director of E2 Solutions, LLC as I face daily challenges of how to be successful and competitive. When no one else believes in me, I still believe in myself and seek to seize the opportunity whenever I can. Steve taught me that even when I think “I’m the man,” I need to be humble and know it’s only for a short time.

I enjoyed attending this event and look forward to more events hosted by OCMA; the year’s calendar looks very interesting, filled with successful business people and business opportunities.