Elway

Growing up, I cheered John Elway and the Denver Broncos to three Super Bowls. I was quite young, and each year was forced to go to bed at half time, always praying that I would wake up to a Bronco's victory.

But it never happened. It never even came close to happening. The Broncos were destroyed each year, the final in their third appearance (during my lifetime) being 55 to 10. I remained a Broncos fan, and even though he could never inspire a comeback in the big game, Elway was considered one of the best post-season quarterbacks to ever command the AFC. My friends laughed at me during every subsequent season as I mentioned that this would be the year that the Broncos finally won, that this would be the season when they achieved the victory that had been scurrilously denied them in the past. You're an idiot; you're a loser, said they, laughing and pointing, onerous unfaithful laughter from people who understood neither the Denver Broncos nor the might resting within John Elway's unyielding creativity: my faith in Elway persevered. And eventually, thanks to an unheralded offensive line, a gifted running back, talented coach, stalwart tight end, ferocious defense, and three clutch wide receivers, Elway won the big game in a burst of athletic integrity, twice.

And it's that athletic integrity which I turn to now while approaching Gauze Industries. What would Elway do if it was the fourth quarter and his workload had the lead, there were only two and half minutes left on the clock, deadlines approaching, projections piling, competition grinding, markets crashing? Well let me tell you: he'd dig in those angelic heels and rush for 16 yards head-first big-time. He'd fake right, run left and hit his fullback with a surprise 12 yarder straight up the gut before pulling an audible and handing it off to his tight-end. Thanks to all his regular season research, he'd be right frick ready to drill those opponents into submission before stopping on the sideline to smoke a cigarette, wave to his fans, and think about grabbing an ice cold glass of pastis after the game, the benefits of preparation, the rewards of resilience. My company may experience significant setbacks and defeats, time and time again, look, there's another one, beyond that ridge, right there, staring, laughing, pointing, mocking, smiling, but fret not, for thou dost have the courage and resolution to keep the goal in sight at each and every moment of every single day, always there, motivating, driving, demanding, inspiring, complicating, simplifying, delineating, deconstructing for a lifetime.