Integrity Is Worth More Than Championships

Anyone who knows me is aware that I really like Tom Brady, the New England Patriots and everything that they have been able to accomplish together. Their highly effective culture has successfully blended teamwork with camaraderie, and consistently produces Super Bowl championships and Pro Bowl-caliber players. In many ways, they are a model worth studying…and I have.

When I last met Brady, it was at an event organized by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, where Brady and the Patriots were granting a wish to a 4-year old girl suffering from acute myeloid leukemia. The girl lived in Washington state, but was a fan of the Patriots—and an even bigger fan of Brady. I watched several players trade stories, laugh and play with the Make-A-Wish children. But when Brady made his way to one knee so he could go eye-to-eye with little Madeline, I felt a genuineness from him that was touching to witness.