Playing A poor Hand Well

The thoughts I’ve recorded here have all been inspired by the wise people I’ve met, books I’ve read, podcasts I’ve listened to, people I’m coaching and the insight they have given me. I thank them all of them for going deep to find their wisdom.

My goal is to match their generosity by sharing some brief ideas, quotes, as well as a recommendation each Friday for you to ponder.

The concepts are taken from years of daily journaling and in the moment note-taking in my Moleskine journal.

“Life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.” – Jack London

 Deck shuffled. Cards dealt.

The cards are not unfamiliar, but over the past few months the rules of the game have changed for all of us. So much so that no one seems to know them anymore. Each day, there are new rules, and in most cases, the game got harder.

We learn a lot when things get tough – a silver lining.

If nothing else, for many, an opportunity for reflection. Slow down, a longing mostly lost in the ‘busyness’ of our pre-pandemic lives.

Still, it is not easy. I’m convinced that discomfort is the prerequisite for growth, and we need more than space for meaningful reflection. It also requires an appetite for the struggle we are required to impose on ourselves.

To go deep, to go forward.

Important things can happen during periods of isolation, but it requires intentional introspection and the rigour of critical thought.

Then, every so often, you look down at your cards, and you see one, although familiar, has no place in this game.

It’s the Joker, and you wonder how it found it’s way into the pack.

On Valentines Day just a few months ago, I was dealt a Joker.

I learned I had cancer.

I use the past tense ‘had’, because that is my hope, and my growing belief having had surgery six weeks ago to remove my prostate gland and having received good news from my surgeon that the cancer was likely contained.

I had no idea I had cancer. There were no signs. I’m indebted to my GP who thought it would be a good idea to check late last year. He went ‘two knuckles deep’, felt a lump with blood tests showing an elevated PSA, with MRI and biopsy to follow over the next few months.

Then the phone call you don’t want to get.

“Cameron, I’m sorry to tell you that you have cancer.”

The surgery was a tad rugged, as are the first couple of weeks afterwards, but I am now able to focus on restoring the functionality previously the domain of my ex-prostate and doing my best not to align my self-esteem and blokey-ego to these.

I will not know for up to two years how well my body will recover, or whether I am cancer-free. I do know, however, that I am in good hands, in particular, my surgeon Prof. Mark Frydenberg, and I have the best care and love from my wife Cecily, kids, family and friends.

Has cancer changed me?

I think so.

Almost from the moment I received the cancer call, I realised I’d spent a lot of time in my life trying to guess an unknown and unknowable future, and how my actions will likely impact on it, and mostly getting it wrong when the future refused to cooperate with my wishes, desires and efforts.

I would sometimes try to justify my actions to others, but mostly I would be unkind to myself.

Then I do it all over again.

No good comes from this. It is so self-defeating and dangerous.

My hope from this point onwards is to try do the best I can knowing that every so often I will get it right enough for it to be meaningful to the small circle that matters.

When we understand what really matters, we get to enjoy what seems to matter.

Deck shuffled. Cards dealt.

If cancer has taught me this, it has been a gift.

The other thing that happens is I cry unexpectedly, like when I am writing this.

Take care.

I always enjoy the opportunity to talk all things culture and high-performance, and the development of leaders to achieve it.

Here are a few of ways to start the ball rolling:

• I like to share the ‘bruises’ of my lived leadership experiences as a 25 year CEO in the AFL with leaders as part of our Learning Leadership event for senior leaders. We have run this event for the past few years, and the feedback has been excellent. We have now transitioned the event online. There is no cost as we recognise that time allocated to learning is perhaps our most precious resource, and therefore we have also provided a number of dates from which to choose, please use this link.

• Sign up for the “More to the Game” weekly email, and receive a copy of my “What business can learn from football” White Paper. The emails are short leadership reflections, no more than a couple of minutes to read and we will always treat our communication with respect. Please use this link.

• Download my book “More to the Game”. In this publication, I have combined my writings and drawings with the beautiful imagery of Michael Willson, the premier AFL photographer. It is free to download (no sign-ups) at “More to the Game – What leaders can learn from football” 

You can also contact me at cameron@designCEO.com.au and let me know how you think we can work together.

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