Today’s Leadership Lesson comes from the 1980s TV show that featured America’s favorite customized sports car, the Coyote X.  That’s right folks, I’m talking about none other than Hardcastle and McCormick.  I don’t need to dive into a specific episode in this blog, because the premise of the show itself is the Leadership Lesson.  If you watched this show as religiously as I did, you may have an idea of where I’m heading.  If this was not on your regular viewing list, allow me to recap the main characters and background.

Judge Milton C. ‘Hard Case’ Hardcastle, a grizzled judge who made a name for himself by dealing severe sentences to the bad guys, was about to retire.  One of his final cases introduced him to Mark ‘Skid Mark’ McCormick, a racecar driver who stole a car to earn him a spot in Hardcastle’s courtroom. In typical 80s fashion, the two struck an unorthodox deal.  Hardcastle agreed to waive any prison time for McCormick and let him keep the stolen sports car.  All McCormick had to do was partner with the judge to go after two hundred bad guys who had avoided prosecution in his courtroom due to legal technicalities.  McCormick agreed and for three glorious seasons, the two tracked down villains and put them away!

So where is the Leadership Lesson in all this, you ask?  It’s simple. Leaders help others to recognize the value in themselves. And that’s exactly what Hardcastle did with McCormick. McCormick was a down-on-his-luck criminal with not a lot to show for his life.  Hardcastle did what great leaders do.  He not only gave McCormick the opportunity to change his ways, but he mentored him on how to do it.  Hardcastle also realized that in order to have a lasting effect, they couldn’t just partner one time and be done.  Who we are is a result of what we do over and over again in life.  We need to form great habits in order to be great people. And the judge had two hundred cases to support this theory.

The great leaders recognize value in others.  They help others recognize that same value in themselves.  And they help convert that value into successful actions.  All McCormick knew was a life of crime.  Hardcastle showed him he was made for more than that and encouraged and enabled him to be a better person.  He equipped him to contribute to society.  To steal a leadership metaphor, he emptied his cup into McCormick.

And what was the end result? Well, besides making sure justice was served where ever they showed up, in the series finale, when McCormick had finished his service to Hardcastle, he decided to go to law school, earn his degree, and follow in Hardcastle’s footsteps.  And in one final selfless gesture, Hardcastle offered to pay his tuition.

Leaders often talk about legacy.  Some want their legacy left behind by their name showing on the side of a building.  Others seek prestigious awards.  These are great goals.  But in my opinion, if we truly want to leave our legacy behind for others to know and understand, there is no better way than to leave it through others.

Laugh hard.  Learn more.  Lead well.