Episode 20- Book Review: Play for the Person Next to You

In this episode of From Idea to Done, we talk about Erick Hatch's book, "Play for the Person Next to You." We take a look at how knowing your team member's professional and personal goals can help teamwork as a whole.

J/E: Hey Everyone, I'm Josh and I'm Erick

E: Today’s idea is Playing For The Person Next To You. This is a book written by Fargo’s very own Erik Hatch. We went to his book release party a couple of weeks ago. 

Like many parties, I left them excited. I wanted to come back, and make things better for our team. Josh how did you feel after the release party?

J: I really like Erik and how he’s evolved his message over the years. He definitely drove home why we need to be playing for the person next to us. 

E: I leave a lot of those events really inspired, then I get back to the office, and do nothing with the information. I wanted to change that with this. I now have a weekly spreadsheet that I make with all of my professional and personal goals. At the top I listed each of our team members. 

We had a few pretty big discussions lately, and I was able to find everyone else’s why. I list that first on my spreadsheet, along with the questions what can I do to help you this week, and what I need from you this week. This puts teamwork first, and is the first thing I look at each week. Can we talk about some of your thoughts as our owner to help us play for each other?

J: There are some goals and promises that I’ve made to my family and they tie to performance here at the office. Those goals aren’t something that I can achieve on my own but need the tribe to help me get there. How can I flip that from an owners perspective and instead say, how can you help me write you a $10k quarterly bonus check, or Erick I know you like to travel, how can you help me send you to India.

E: You presented on your why last week. One of the best parts of your presentation was when you talked about wanting to really change our lives, and help us get where we want. I think the part I like about working on a small team is co-dependance. We all have things we want to do outside of work. Explaining to each other what those things are, and helps us align for each other. That is something you don’t get at a bigger company. 

J: Hatch has a unique perspective of how can you be a chapter in everyone else’s book vs your own book which i think plays well here. Well other than he just wrote a book, so I might need to talk to him about that….

E: After the presentation we said hi to Erik. I told him I wasn’t going to have him sign my book until I read it. I reached out to him today to have a lunch meeting, and get his thoughts on my takeaways, and how I can make our action for our team better

J: I think that's great.

E: Since we have had our big discussions it is really motivating for me to be working for Suman to see his family, helping you get a home and time with your kids, and helping everyone else pay for their upcoming weddings. It is a different good feeling knowing what everyone is trying to do, and it keeps me on track with my work to help get them there. Erik’s book opened my eyes up to a better way of thinking.

J: 100%

E: Thank you for listening to this episode, if you know a startup that could use our random advice and thoughts have them subscribe and leave a review on iTunes.