Mayweather Teaches of Importance of Little Things

Floyd Mayweather is fighting Miguel Cotto on May 5, 2012. As public relations for that upcoming fight, there’s been a series of features on each fighter – on Mayweather and Cotto – all over CNN while I watch the news.

One I recently watched on CNN was an interview held by Michael Eric Dyson with Floyd Mayweather on HBO 24/7. While Mayweather typically focuses on money, fame, and money again, but in a real moment of honesty, Floyd Mayweather reminds us of the little things.

Personal Application

Today, even though you may be busy in your Lean journey. Remember the little things when it comes to people. When on the floor, call people by their first name and ask them about their day; about their hobbies; about their families. Ask them if there’s anything you can do to help them today. Remember that we’re in the business of building people, not just improving operations.

In the interview, Mayweather recounts his childhood: his mom on drugs; his dad in and out of jail. And then he shares this interesting bit – which, for just one moment – melts away his oversized ego and he becomes a little kid again:

“Me and my dad have never been bowling. Me and my dad have never been to dinner. We’ve never sat down and talked as father and son. Me and my dad’s relationship has always just been boxing. Nothing else. Just boxing. If it wasn’t about boxing, then it wasn’t about nothing. I try to be outside of the box and break the cycle.”

For a guy worth hundreds of millions of dollars, he’s longing for a childhood where he could have spent some meaningful time with his dad – dinner, movie, and bowling.

This is a good reminder to all of us in our daily hustle and bustle of work and other responsibilities: the little things are indeed the big things.

And, no, I’m not a Mayweather fan. I’m all for Manny Pacquiao. But it was refreshing to hear from Mayweather in a way that wasn’t so full of ego.