Jim Harbaugh as a Role Model

Submitted by somewittyname on

This post is meant in all sincerity and is not about football. Maybe no one cares. Maybe it's a "too long, didn't read," but I don't care; I'm going to post it.

There are many ways people define success in life and there are many different people who may serve as role models for different aspects of life, whether those be humility, integrity, parenting, professional sucess, etc. I will not claim that Coach Harbaugh is the embodiment of all aspects in life, although he does appear to be particularly well-rounded, instead I'd like to focus on Coach as a role model for professional sucess. Ultimately, professional success is measured in achievements, but I want to put those aside and focus on the characteristics that I believe lead to greatness. So rather than discuss Coach's sucesses as a quarterback at the University of Michigan and in the NFL and as a coach at each and every stop, I'd rather focus on what makes him what he is.

The first thing that people love to say about him, which is already getting over-played, is his competitiveness. I do believe that this is a key component of what makes him great, but I think it is often misconstrued as him wanting to beat everyone else. This approach only gets you as far as everyone else or negligibly further. I believe Coach wants simply to be great and treats every day not only "with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind" but as a chance to be better than he was the day before. He does not ask, "what is Urban Meyer doing and how can I beat him?," he asks, "how can I be better than yesterday?"

Now, what I really think has led to his professional success, however, is an absolute refusal to be apologetic about who he is and what he wants to accomplish. Most fail to be great because they are afraid to be great. Coach believes in himself, he believes in his foundations and his principles. As his recent comments regarding over-staying his welcome show, he is also not simply ignorant, he is in fact well aware of his interactions with others. Fully aware. He simply will not let others dictate how he lives his life. He lives his life without fear of what others think, and while this often ruffles feathers, they are often feathers that could probably use ruffling. Maybe someday Coach will get burned by this philosophy. Some might say his stint with 49ers is an example. But here he is at the greatest public university in the world and he hasn't scaled back one iota. Do you doubt him?

All this being said, do not emulate Coach Harbaugh. Be yourself, do what you believe in and do not fear greatness. It is obtainable to all who wish it. The University and this community supports you. Go blue!

Sincerley yours in football and the University of Michigan,

somewittyname

EnoughAlready

April 24th, 2015 at 1:57 PM ^

Until the last two paragraphs.  No need to give advice to thousands of strangers.  And you say don't emulate him -- then emulate him in the close of the post.

Aside from all that, I like the post.

LSAClassOf2000

April 24th, 2015 at 2:11 PM ^

We were actually being somewhat Harbaugh in one regard before it was cool over in my neck of the woods. The regional productivity numbers are sent out and/or posted every month - names and number of work orders  and total task completed - for all to see. The transparency creates a spirited but friendly competition among groups and really helps customer satisfaction in a way, as odd as this sounds. 

His Dudeness

April 24th, 2015 at 2:53 PM ^

This is going to come off as a little dramatic, but here goes. I'm failry young (early-30's) and I've been laid off twice now after having spent a bunch of money and time getting my MBA. Over the last 8-9 months I have been unemployed living in a city that is not home to me and I have very few friends in.

When Harbaugh was hired I  had a lot of time to consume every bit of news I could about the man. I listened to every interview, watched all the videos, pressers - past and present. I have to be honest, the guy has helped me out a ton in my professional life. Honest to goodness the day I interviewed for the job I now have I repeated to myself "Attack this day with an energy unknown to mankind." and I got the job and every day since I repeat the same thiing before walking into work and I work harder than I ever have before. And I talk to everyone I see and I smile and I dont just wait for my turn to talk. I actually listen and I learn peoples names and I walk with confidence. It all sounds very silly but it's true. I will always be a fan of the man. I have no doubt he will be successful here. Guys is a winner.

wahooverine

April 24th, 2015 at 5:00 PM ^

Thanks for sharing man. Not to turn this thread into a mens support group but I can relate to your story and in similar fashion was genuinely inspired by Harbaugh during a recent dark period in my life.  I'm a similar age. My longterm girlfriend left me 7 months ago just before I was about to propose to her. I fell into a deep depression and performed poorly at work nearly getting fired. I was in a dark place for a long time realizing (aside from the sting of someone I loved leaving me) that I wasn't in a job I loved nor making the income I could, had huge debt (from my MBA program) and had no idea as to the purpose and direction of my life anymore. Like you living a big city with few close friends. It was a bad existential crisis compounded by hopelessness. I hated my life. It's fine and normal to feel that way in your twenties from time to time, but in your thirties it can feel like your life is over and you're destined to be living "in a van down by the river" as an abject failure by the time youre 40. Harbaugh was hired and I consumed everything about him just like you. Harbaugh's philosophy of winning, attitude, hard work, through his speeches and pep talks and interviews inspired to me pick myself up and get moving to build myself back up into the confident guy I was before and working toward the life I want. Particularly this quote: "Champions love the work, wannabes love the dream". I have to admit I've always had intrinsic motivation, but during what was probably the worst time in my life I found inspiration and positivity from a true winner, not to mention instant happiness where Michigan football is concerned. There is something about Harbaugh's unshaking, unapologetic belief in his own abilities that is amazing to see and seems to inspire success in whatever he touches; the results speak for themselves.

bo_lives

April 24th, 2015 at 8:41 PM ^

I think a lot of people don't realize how important it is to exhude confidence in everything you do. Granted, it's often quite hard and stressful to do that, and you risk getting into confontrations.

Harbaugh is the epitome of confidence. I've heard stories of people who grew up with him, and they say he has always been like this even since his peewee football days. Obviously it's gotten him extraordinarily far in life. It's also possibly the reason for the friction in SF. Thankfully for U-M fans, Baalke and York are incredibly short-sighted and couldn't take it anymore. Their loss, obviously.

Danwillhor

April 24th, 2015 at 3:19 PM ^

and I may add to that but I mean this with sincerity: Hoke literally changed as a coach (HC or other) when he became the HC at Michigan. He seemed to want to coach by the rules he thought were special to UM. I call them "The Carr Rules" but that's likely unfair. He also had a pretty shit AD. Yet, he wasn't the guy he was at BSU & especially SDSU. I watched those SDSU hangs and they were coached to play or did play like his UM teams (outside '11). A good guy but he had quite a fire before he got here. I can only speculate but I think the main difference is fear. Fear of not doing everything "the Michigan way" as laid out by Carr. He seemed shackled by his own idea of what UM had to be (a fear to be his own HC) & a shit AD that interfered with EVERYTHING. I love Harbaugh but he does rub people the wrong way at times. Yet, that's why I love me some Harbaugh! If anything is to be taken away from him in a rule model sense it's too be the perfect mix of a genuinely good heart but not being afraid to do your own thing no matter who becomes offended. Don't hurt people but don't seek their approval. I'm not a dick but I try to do that AMAP. I like being me & I'm not hurting anyone. I funny care if others disagree with me, etc. I take no offense when they do. In short: our last HC tried to please everyone. He's a decent guy by most accounts! I'm sure Saban, etc loved him lol. Jim looks guys with huge egos in the eyes & asks what their deal is after being asked the same lol. He truly DNGAF. I like that.

a different Jason

April 24th, 2015 at 3:47 PM ^

But to use any person as a role model is treading a fool's path. Humans are all complicated and flawed. Prov 15:22 tells us that much wise counsel will help us succeed. So use Harbaugh's wisdom and inspiration but include other's as well.

MichiganMAN47

April 24th, 2015 at 4:43 PM ^

Harbaugh would be an excellent lawyer or CEO. He knows the formula for success, that's highly transferable.