Character Archives - Outwork, LLC

The 49er Way

February 1, 2021 by Tony Francisco Leave a Comment

This post was originally published on LinkedIn.

Introduction

In 1978, the San Francisco 49ers finished dead last in the NFC West Division with a paltry 2-14 record. The general manager of the time made a series of shaky decisions that did little to improve the outlook of the failing franchise. He shipped off key talent, including a QB that would go on to win two championships. He made a poor bet against the franchise’s future with a gamble on an over-the-hill O.J Simpson. In shambles, no one would have guessed that this same team would eventually become known as the “Team of the 80s.”

In 1979, the 49ers rise to football stardom would begin. Bill Walsh was hired on as Heach Coach and General Manager. [Read more…]

What it Takes to Have Grit

March 1, 2020 by Tony Francisco Leave a Comment

Grit, as defined by Angela Duckworth, in her bestselling book by the same name, is passion and perseverance.

Grit is forged by the combination of the two — a passion for something and the willingness to follow through on the process it takes to become good at that thing.

Here’s how Duckworth describes highly-successful people, based on her research:

1. They were resilient and hardworking.

2. They knew in a very, very deep way what it was they wanted.

If grit is the key to success, then determination and direction is the key to having grit. [Read more…]

What is Character?

December 25, 2018 by Tony Francisco Leave a Comment

The word character has lost its true meaning. Today, it is thought of as a novel trait we know we should have but can’t define in a meaningful way. We say things like “men of good character” but we mistakenly define it as a man of good qualities or of good values. The term we use today is more closely linked to a person’s personality.

Character is something different. Warren Susman researched the rise and fall of the concept of character during the 1800s and wrote that it was a keyword in the vocabulary, but it was described as something men would have to strive to attain.

Good character was something that came from within and a person of good character was a person of noble virtue.

Their actions yielded their character: what they did was who they were.

[Read more…]

How Theodore Roosevelt Became a Barrel Chested Badass

January 15, 2016 by Tony Francisco Leave a Comment

The history of America is filled with great leaders. Leaders that had vision, determination, charisma, and the ability to move people. Some were gifted speakers that moved people emotionally. Others infused a sense of purpose into people that got them to move physically.

The most prominent advocate of physical action was the barrel-chested Teddy Roosevelt. He encouraged Americans to endure physical hardships, with his most pertinent advice was for one to partake in a strenuous life. He despised laziness and those people that simply existed in the world without any pressing purpose.

He foresaw the soft America of today and even sought out war against the Spanish in Cuba because he felt that America needed a kick in the right direction. [Read more…]