What Questions Automatically Spark a Debate?
Recently, I watched a podcast called Club Shay Shay where Shannon Sharpe (3X Super Bowl NFL champ) and Charles Barkley (former NBA power forward) debated the difference between 1990s basketball players and current NBA players. For those not into sports, hang in there.
Humans love to compare. Celebrity magazines ask, “Who wore this dress better?” Smartphone users debate, “Apple or Android?” (Is there really a comparison?) With the U.S. elections approaching… well, let’s not go there! But in the podcast, the question was:
Who is the better basketball player, Michael Jordan or LeBron James?
I rolled my eyes, expecting Charles Barkley to glorify the good ole days of “real basketball.” He could’ve used stats or stories to stand his ground. But he didn’t.
Instead, Barkley emphasized that comparing is never simple. Sure, some elements of basketball have remained the same: five players on a court playing the same positions, with the same scoring rules. Yet, much has changed. The league has grown, social media exploded, rules concerning fouls have evolved, and technology has transformed how teams use stats and rehab players.
Barkley highlighted that while there’s often tension between current and former players, there’s also room for mutual learning.
Now, why does this matter?
I’ve been working on a passion project with a dear friend, focused on providing military field leaders with new resources during crucial roles like command. We’ve reached out to previous leaders for support, and their responses have been mixed. Some say, “I made it through command without those resources; they’ll just need to toughen up.” Others argue, “Without data proving these leaders need more, why invest further?” And then some simply ask, “What do you mean?”
Here’s where I pull out my sports analogy: while former leaders navigated the same “game” of command, some variables have changed. These experienced leaders can offer invaluable advice, but they must recognize that new strategies and resources are available today.
Consider this: an athlete suffers a knee injury.
Ten years ago, rehab primarily involved rest, basic physical therapy, and progressive strength training. Today, rehab is much more sophisticated. With advancements in sports medicine, we now have personalized, data-driven protocols, regenerative therapies like platelet-rich plasma treatments, and advanced techniques such as blood flow restriction training. Recovery now also emphasizes mental resilience and injury prevention through biomechanical assessments.
Same knee injury, but drastically different approaches. A current athlete can still learn from a retired one about mental toughness and discipline, but why would they rely on outdated rehab techniques?
Likewise, I’m challenged daily in our ever-changing world to reflect on how I approach problems. Am I open to evolving? I went to school for 8 hours a day—do my children need to? I once did ____ to achieve success, but is there a better method now?
The truth is, asking “Who is better?”—especially when comparing across generations—might be fun, but it’s not necessarily productive. A more useful approach might be to ask:
• What new developments in my industry could benefit the next generation?
• How can previous experiences inform current challenges, without resisting modern innovations?
• What mindset shifts must I embrace to stay relevant and impactful?
Ultimately, growth happens when we stop clinging to the past and start combining its wisdom with the innovations of the present.
With Love,
Liz
