I was hot, to say the least! Both the temperature and humidity had risen well over 90 on that late summer Saturday in Kansas City. Our construction crew worked feverishly in the heat to transform the old Kansas City baseball stadium into a football stadium for a Kansas City Chiefs’ preseason game—and time was in short supply. We had until mid-afternoon to finish bolting in added bleachers as the gates would open at 5:00 p.m. to let the fans come in. All of us were exhausted, sweating profusely and unsure that we could finish in time.
Noon found me high in the stands still bolting in bleachers. Suddenly, I heard someone yelling from below. “What’s that about?” I wondered grumpily. “I can’t work any harder or faster!” When I looked down, I saw Jerry Baker, the construction company owner, wearing a tee shirt, blue jeans and an old hard hat. I paused in amazement. He hadn’t come to criticize but to cheer us on, and more importantly, to help. With his encouragement, energy and skill, the crew finished the job by 4:00 p.m., a full hour before the fans would come streaming in. Yes, “CHAMPS lead by example.”
What about you? Can you remember a CHAMP who led by showing you the way?
