NFL Draft: Patience as a Spectator Sport
The greatest hiring event in sports took place last week. Millions tuned in to watch hours and hours over three days of the NFL Draft. Last Thursday night’s first round drew a total viewership of 32 million viewers — a new record. That’s up 28% from the Draft TV audience in 2013. Why? Much of the interest came from having college stars in the Draft. Jadeveon Clowney was the first overall pick, but 2012 Heisman winner Johnny Manziel had to wait until the 22nd spot! It was an excruciating wait for Johnny Football, but great theatre that clearly kept TV viewers interested. Why do we watch a show of waiting? Is “patience” a spectator sport?
Yes, we all know “patience is a virtue,” and “all good things come to those who wait.” The definition of “patience” is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.
The NFL Draft is the ultimate Waiting Game. Cameras were up close and personal on faces full of joy or anguish. It’s sports reality television at its most voyeuristic. Young men find out, in real time, what team will choose them, where they will live and how much money they will make. For most it’s well worth the wait. Parents and lovers embrace, tears are shed, and some huge guys hug Roger Goodell way too hard. It IS fun watching Goodell try to remain upright as big 350-pound kids almost knock him over. And we were reminded they are just kids.
But mostly we watched “patience” demonstrated. A virtue we all must have. It has never been easy to be patient, but it’s probably harder now than at any time in history. In a world where messages and information can be sent across the world instantly, everything is available with only a few clicks of the mouse. Fortunately, patience is a virtue that can be cultivated and nurtured over time. Since patience is one of my lessons in life, here are my best tips:
1. Pinpoint the situations that trigger you to lose patience. Are you overscheduled? Probably. Guess who did that? You mostly. Weed out that Monday List. Does it all have to be done Monday? No. See the big picture, and choose your priorities. Then, distribute that huge “Monday List” throughout the week.
My mantra: “Always put off till tomorrow whatever you can.”
2. Remind yourself that things take time. People who are impatient are people who insist on getting things done now and don’t like to waste time. However, some things just can’t be rushed.
3. Expect the unexpected. It’s not really “unexpected.” Remember Murphy’s Law is a law:
- Everything takes longer than you think.
- Nothing is as simple as it seems.
- If anything can go wrong, it will.
And I always joke, “Don’t forget O’Toole’s law: Murphy was an optimist.”
When you have a positive outlook, you know that most of the time, you will eventually get what you want. And even if you don’t, developing patience can be major step in moving forward in your life. It has been in mine.