07 Mar Peyton Manning: Revolutionizing healthcare a ‘mighty endeavor’
The five-time NFL MVP and two-time Super Bowl champ in a speech at HIMSS16 thanks health IT professionals for ‘commitment to a lofty cause.’
LAS VEGAS – In his closing keynote at HIMSS16 on Friday, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, the reigning Super Bowl champ, spoke about leadership, teamwork and battling through adversity.
“I’ve been on the receiving end of your efforts,” the often-injured quarterback told the crowd of healthcare professionals. “I can’t even come close to doing what you do.”
The five-time NFL most valuable player and two-time Super Bowl winner was in Las Vegas to talk about leadership, communication and hard work, he said. But first, he couldn’t resist getting in a couple jokes about his side-gig as a commercial pitchman for Nationwide Insurance and Papa John’s Pizza.
“I cannot give you any business advice, but I can tell you that due to some recent law changes in Colorado, the pizza business has been pretty good,” said Manning, alluding to the recent legalization of marijuana in the state. “A lot of late night orders.”
As for Nationwide, that sing-song seven-note tagline has “taken on a life of its own,” he said. “People don’t speak to me, they jingle to me.”
The quarterback is the most important position in sports, and as one of the greatest the game’s ever seen, Manning said he’d learned some lessons on leadership dating back to his time as a freshman at University of Tennessee, where he was taught that leadership is something that’s earned.
Through his career, Manning, the NFL’s all-time passing yardage leader, said he’s learned that leaders need to evolve according to circumstances.
“When the environment changes drastically around you, no one, including a leader, can take anything for granted,” he said. That point was driven home as late career injuries forced him to adjust his strategies. “I was keenly are of my strengths, but also my physical limitations. By the time my injuries caught up to me, I had to rely on my attitude.”
Leadership is important, said Manning, but so is teamwork.