What makes one team more successful than another?  They all prepare about the same way: weeks of conditioning, hours of studying play books, and endless repetitions of running plays until they are perfected.  I think more often than not the difference between successful and unsuccessful teams can be attributed to three things: instilling the idea of team instead of self, recruiting great talent in key positions, and precision play-calling by the coaches based on hours of studying their team and their opponent. 

Following these principles has led to success even against seemingly insurmountable odds.  Two excellent examples in recent years are wins by Appalachian State over

then- #5 Michigan, and again on Saturday as James Madison University beat #13 Virginia Tech.  In both these incidences a small school with "no chance to win" beat a top school in the nation at the opponent's home stadium - an amazing accomplishment against seemingly insurmountable odds.  They believed in their team, used their talents to their advantage, and made key decisions at crucial times. They had a plan and they worked their plan.

The football analogy is not unlike our businesses.  As we attempt to operate our businesses in a winning manner in a depressed industry, in an ailing economy, and cope with an administration that makes one bad decision after another, it would appear that we are facing seemingly insurmountable odds. But like Appalachian State and James Madison, we need to have a good plan and work it.  We must have talented people in key positions. We have all cut our staffs significantly over the past few years, and we have probably accomplished this goal just from sheer attrition.  It is our job as managers to instill in our employees a sense of team, they must believe in what we are doing.  We have to use the talents of our companies to our advantage. 

How do we best do this?  If I may borrow a quote from the keynote speaker at our convention, Kraig Kramers, "walk the four corners," know your employees and what they think.   There is a wealth of knowledge and quality ideas in the teams we have assembled.   When we have these things in place it helps us, as managers, to make the proper calls at the proper times. 

The formidable opponent that faces our industry, our businesses, FICAP, and the economy of Florida is Amendment 4.  As we all know, if Amendment 4 is passed in November, our industry and the Florida economy will be devastated.   How do we work the plan?  We at FICAP already have an awesome team, our dedicated members.  In fact, one of our sister organizations recently stated that in their opinion member participation is the strength of FICAP.  We have a tremendous number of talented people in FICAP.  I encourage all of you to take the message to the community, speak at your Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, at your church, talk to your golf buddies and neighbors.  The plan is clear and simple- get the message out to everyone you can - VOTE NO ON 4.   

I am convinced that if we believe in what we are doing, and we use our talents and opportunities to our advantage and work the plan, we can be - and will be - successful in November.