In 1989, the new NFL owner of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones, fired the legendary coach Tom Landry and hired one of his former college football teammates, Jimmy Johnson, as the new head coach. Johnson faced the same problems that a new entrepreneur has: Who should be on my leadership team? What should be their responsibility? Out of twelve key coaching positions, Johnson kept only three coaches from Landry’s staff in the same positions and moved one coach to a different position. Within four years (1993), the Dallas Cowboys, under head coach Jimmy Johnson, won Super Bowl XXVII with six of the original coaches Johnson hired his first year still in the same positions.

A. How is a startup similar to an existing organization that needs to be turned around? How are they different?

B. What are some reasons to surround yourself with others instead of taking the attitude that “I can do it myself?”

C. For any leader, what are some reasons that skills in identifying and recruiting key people are more important than technical skills?