Highlights from Adobe Summit’s Day 2 session with Steve Young and Collin Resch:
Question: If you were still playing, would you throw to Richard Sherman?
In college, everyone was open. In the pros, no one was open. To me, I don’t care who is out there. If you are open, you are getting the football. If you are covered, probably not. Part of performing is finding out how good you are.
Question: Did you cringe at throwing to one side of the field?
You don’t want to give into that. You don’t want to avoid competition. It feels kind of creepy.
Question: Analytics and predictions goes hand in hand with this. You have a different mindset.
I met with this company called predictive DNA. He said by DNA he could figure out if you would be a good athlete or not. I hated that. Think of what it would mean to a 10 year old Steve Young. Pretty soon, we are a bunch of mice in a wheel.
I know it’s useful. I do like predictive technology. I just don’t want to be trapped by it.
Point: You invented yourself even in high school. You threw a no-hitter in baseball actually.
I didn’t drink and I threw that the day after senior prom so take that in context…….
Question: You are known as a running quarterback. You go to BYU, a throwing team. You reinvent yourself. You take a round about way to the NFL. You then hit San Francisco with a key emphasis on accuracy. Obviously you know how to reinvent yourself.
I learned how to throw the football when I was in college. Then I learned how to be accurate. But in the pros, you have to open up your visibility. I learned quickly that I wasn’t very tall compared to other quarterbacks. Key quote: You better start seeing the open guy. The job demands 6′ 5″. So what do you do? Wear high heels? I finally realized that I know where Jerry is going so throw it where you think Jerry Rice is. I started to throw the ball blind. Jerry started to catch the ball.
Jerry’s advice: Steve, just put it in my chest.
Question: What are the searing memories of your career?
Throwing the ball blind. When he catches it then I can say, “I’m taller” Steve gave an example of throwing the ball blind and getting dog piled. Hearing the crowd go silent he knew that Jerry Rice caught it. That was a great moment.
You can’t reinvent yourself. You just figure out other ways to deliver. Figure out other ways to be agile and responsive. There’s nothing that makes you old than not knowing what’s happening in technology. I buy that new thing. I don’t want to hear that this is a 20 something generation.
Question: As CEO of a global capital firm you said, “I want to know as a private equity guy who use to play ball.” Why?
I got my law degree while winning three Super Bowls. The teachers didn’t care. My dad said to prepare for your next life. In the NFL it’s over at 38. I just humbled myself and go back to school so I can be good at something after the NFL. I never knew there were so many common denominators between sports and business.
I’m not buying a company, I’m buying them. Invest in someone. Trust them. It’s a different world with no clock and no score but it’s still a great ride.
Question: Let’s talk about the final play and Nate Silver and stats. You listen to all these stats and the final play of the Super Bowl.
This is what’s wrong with data. Numbers never lie but they never tell the whole truth either. There are zero percent of throws from the 1/2 yard line inside of the tackle box. You have to be careful. Everything is contextual.
Quote: You have to royally screw up on multiple levels to lose.
Quote: If the ultimate guy is not accountable then that’s a bad thing.
Adobe Summit: 2nd Day Session: Steve Young
by Michael Porter on March 11th, 2015 | ~ minute read
