Four plays into the 2023 season, the New York Jets' greatest weakness was once again exposed for the world to see and it might just be the best thing that ever happened to them. For that to be the case though, they‘ll have to do the deep work of self-reflection which will lead them to new direction.
Suddenly, they were in a world of hurt as all of their hopes on a SuperBowl run shifted from the NYC QB savior, Aaron Rodgers to their former starting quarterback, the #2 pick on the 2021 draft, and as-to-date, disappointing Zach Wilson. The Jets, one of the most valuable franchises in the world, with the biggest hype of the NFL pre-season went from potential fairytale ending to tragedy... and since we're talking about tragedy, it's only appropriate to tie in a little Greek mythology.
One of the most memorable figures of ancient Greek mythology was Achilles. He was the son of the goddess Thetis and was considered the greatest warrior in all of Greece. As a child, his mother dipped him in the River Styx, in the hopes the magical river of the underworld would grant him invincibility. It almost did. Foretold that he’d die at a young age, the now seemingly invincible Achilles rose to great power. He was a hero to the Greeks, the killer of rival Troy’s famous fighter, Hechtor. Achilles appeared destined for immortality until a poisoned arrow pierced his heel, the only part of his body that his mother couldn’t dip fully in the invincible waters of the Styx. It was his one weakness that killed him.
Every business and every person has an Achilles heel. It lives in overconfidence, arrogance, and complacency. When we fall victim to the always lurking enemy of ignorance, we forget to assess and guard against our vulnerabilities. The challenge is that the more success you have, the more ignorant you can become. As another key figure of the Trojan War, Pyrrhus of Epirus famously said, 'you can win the battle but lose the war'. To succeed long-term, honest and introspective assessment of what vulnerabilities exist, is not only recommended, it's required. So why don’t we? Because it makes for difficult conversations and dirty, exhausting work. None the less, the exercise is not only important but critical.
This last spring, 4 time NFL MVP, SuperBowl-winning quarterback, and future Hall of Famer, Aaron Rodgers walked through the doors and onto the very big stage of the New York Jets. Long have the Jets suffered from sub-par quarterback play. One of the most valuable franchises in professional sports, they haven't won a Super Bowl since 1969. The quarterback for that team? Joe Namath. Broadway Joe just happens to be the only man of the position from the Jets to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame (Unless of course you count QB gun for hire and other Packer transfer, Brett Favre). In the over 50 years since that Namath, the Jets QBs have been a blend of underachievers, journeymen, and guns for hire. So it shouldn't have come as a surprise when Aaron Rodgers was quickly hailed as the hero of Gotham City before he ever completed a pass. But as quickly as he came, he went. After 4 short plays, the long-standing Achilles heal of the Jets franchise, that being quality quarterback play, struck again. Rodgers went out for the year, and maybe his career with... a torn Achilles. Oh, the irony.
So where do we go from here; what's the lesson for a sports franchise, a corporate organization, or the individual?
Strengths or market dominance all have a timetable; ignoring it leads to complacency and missed opportunities for improvement. Your biggest strength may be your biggest weakness.
Turn your investigative eye inward; diligently assessing vulnerabilities and proactively mitigating weaknesses is essential for long-term sustainability and resilience.
Just because you're strong, doesn't mean you always need to be lifting heavy things. Diversifying approach and allocation of resources takes brain energy, not muscle. Thoughtful choices that are strengthened by a deep understanding of not only your competition but of yourself and that is a true competitive advantage.
Take being exposed as a chance to flex your adaptability muscle. Businesses and people that stay open to feedback, market shifts, and new approaches aren't burdened by ignorance and overconfidence, they pivot with ease.
To bring it back to Rodgers and the Jets:
They weren't completely off-base by pursuing A-Rod. Recognizing that their path to another Super Bowl was hindered by a lack of game changing quarterback play, they boldly and publicly made an investment in arguably the most talented player in the league in order to overcome their greatest weakness. Who could have predicted his injury? It may have been a fluke. It's also possible that they were shortsighted in their solution.
What if the Jets' Achilles heel wasn't the quarterback itself but a culture, a scheme, and a cast of players around the quarterback that are necessary to elevate quarterback play. The Jets offensive line is suspect and has been even before Rodgers’ arrival. In the 4 plays he ran, he was running from defenders on each one. With that it mind, was the investment the right one? Was it one player position or a culture, scheme, and cast of players that held the most vulnerabilities? Think of your own scenario. What if the culture, scheme, and cast of players around you?
For the Jets, opportunity awaits. With Rodgers out and a sub-par Wilson in as his replacement, the Jets are now forced to fix the bigger holes in their system. Rodger's injury could be the best thing to ever happen to the Jets. After all, it worked for the Greeks.
With the war dragging on, the loss of the best warrior, and no victory in sight, the Greeks needed to pivot. Secretly, they constructed a giant wooden horse. They pretended to sail away, leaving the horse at the entrance to the city of Troy. having watched the Greeks sail away and seeing the horse sit alone outside their walls, believed it to be a peace offering. They opened their gates and dragged the horse in past their protected walls. In the darkness of night, Greek soldiers exited the hollow horse where they had been hiding and surprised the Trojans. Quickly, they captured the city and won the war.
The Greeks likely thought they couldn't win without Achilles'. After-all, it was foretold that they couldn't. Yet if we’re to believe that recognizing vulnerability creates strength, then it was by having him and then by losing him, that they ultimately (re)positioned themselves for success. Could you do the same?
So, some parting questions:
-Who or What is your Achilles' (your greatest strength)
-Who or What is your Achilles' heel? (your greatest vulnerability)
-What would you do if it was exposed?
-How could/would you still win?
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