Are you a Scout or a Statistician? (Innovate Like Moneyball Part 2)
This post is Innovate Like Moneyball Part 2 so try to read that first.
I recently heard a great spot on NPR from Frank DeFord about the fascination with Jeremy Lin, the Asian-American New York Knicks basketball sensation. Jeremy Lin has become the latest version of Tim Tebow. Anyone looking at his previous stats would say he was an average backup player to having no chance at an NBA career at all. Pretty soon, scouts will be saying things about their recruits as having “The Lin Factor”. It’s that special thing about him that gets fans excited while executing on the court (or field) in an amazing way.
In Moneyball fashion, can a statistician find a Jeremy Lin?
Perhaps, but it would be a long shot and they’d need some divine help. Here is why.
Life and business can be only calculated so much. I’m asked all the time in marketing from clients how we can have better “quantifiable” results. It always amuses me because a client definitely wants life to be put together in an organized fashion that they can control like a wizard. Don’t we all, especially when money and reputation is at stake?
Left photo: Tim Tebow. Credit: Barry Gutierrez / Associated Press Right photo: Jeremy Lin. Credit: Frank Gunn / Associated Press
A statistician would say that people like Doug Flutie, Tim Tebow, or Jeremy Lin are flukes. They rose to the occasion when given the chance and delivered but their overall stats might be considered mediocre.
Ultimately life and business should be both about quantifiable and qualitative results. That is how the best research is done to understand stats and behavior.
Clients say they want the “Lin Factor”,”Apple Factor”, or “Nike Factor” for their brand.
Can you quantify how to get that? That’s not the point. We should celebrate the statistician and the scout equally. When working well together, that “Factor” can happen and I’ve seen it time and time again with teams I am a part of.
The result can be “greatness”. And you know it when you see it.
A River Runs Through It (Then and Now)
It is hard to believe that it has been 18 years since A River Runs Through It released. I was a mere 14 years of age and trying to figure out what the world was about then. To be honest, I have not ceased that pursuit. The tears still run down my face when I watch this beautiful film.
The movie is timeless and I’ve always thought it as one of my top 10 favorite movies. Robert Redford beautifully narrates the film. You can sense his voice connecting with the author as one looking back at life reflecting on the journey and what one has learned. To add, Mark Isham’s score completes the emotions on screen. I listened to the soundtrack when writing this.
The story is from the perspective of Norman Maclean (played by Craig Sheffer) and his interactions with his family. His brother Paul (played by Brad Pitt) in particular is wild and rebellious but the connection between them remains deep as does their heritage as Macleans living in the beautiful state of Montana. I don’t have a brother but I’ve come to appreciate what it means to care for someone no matter where they are or how rebelious they may be. My uncle is one whom I love and right now could be near meeting his maker (since writing this post, he passed on July 2nd, his birthday). My mother has been like the character, “Norman” and my uncle in his later life has been the character, “Paul.” It has not been easy and in many ways the whole family has wanted to give up on him. But we have not. There is a conversation between Paul and Norman that illustrates my mother and uncle’s situation.
Paul: Couldn’t you find him?
Norman: The hell with him.
Paul: Well, I thought we were supposed to help him.
Norman: How the hell do you help that son of a bitch?
Paul: By taking him fishing.
Norman: He doesn’t like fishing. He doesn’t like Montana and he sure as hell doesn’t like me.
Paul: Well, maybe what he likes is somebody trying to help him.
Anyone who struggles to help a love one might understand this line from Paul, “Maybe what he likes is somebody trying to help him.” Paul is speaking of himself if you follow the story and Norman immediately understands. I pray that it doesn’t get this way for my daughters as they grow older but I would never give up as my mother (nor their 90 year old mother) never gave up on my uncle.
There is another poignant line in the movie spoken by Norman’s father in one of his last sermon: “And so it those we live with and should know who elude us. But we can still love them – we can love completely without complete understanding.”
I feel as if I’ve been rescued many times by my friends. And I have even tried to rescue a few. My mother has been such a great example of how to love completely without complete understanding.
This is why it is so important to love and forgive. We live in a broken world. Lower your expectations but remain hopeful.
A fish may rise.
“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters.”
P.S. When I tweeted out about watching the movie and what it meant to me and moves me still today, I got responses like this:
Ted Goldthorpe: I get the same thing from Fast Times At Ridgemont High
Jeff Jentsch: Gremlins for me
Ryan Linhorst: Tommy Boy really spoke to me In the late 90′s.
Tod Shuttleworth: Animal House spoke to me. Still does.
I can’t win.
Have a great Independence Day holiday everyone and be safe.
Share this blog
