Ron “Jaws” Jaworski, Former NFL MVP Quarterback
In my continuing series on remote leadership, my guest today is Ron ("Jaws") Jaworski, who spent 17 years as a distinguished NFL quarterback, including the No. 1-rated passer in the NFC in 1980 and was the 1980 NFL MVP with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Today, Jaworski lives in Southern New Jersey and is civically active and committed to the Jaws Youth Playbook, which focuses on a mission to improve the overall health and wellness of at-risk youth, primarily in the Greater Philadelphia Region. He also owns an exclusive business development company called Business Clubs America as well as owning four Signature Golf courses in South Jersey- RiverWinds Golf & Tennis Club, Valleybrook Country Club, Running Deer Golf Club, and Blue Heron Pines.
In this candid conversation, Ron shared the real stories behind his transition from an NFL MVP quarterback to a successful businessman, his philosophy on leadership during a crisis, and the crucial lessons he learned from football legends.
1. Playing Defense Against Uncertainty. Ron revealed that his 25 years of combined experience as a quarterback and business owner taught him how to make split-second decisions, but the current pandemic has completely changed his playbook. Forced to temporarily furlough 240 employees at his golf company, the naturally aggressive, offensive-minded quarterback found it extremely difficult to suddenly "play defense" and navigate a constantly shifting environment where the virus dictates the terms.
2. The Quarterback's Attention to Detail. According to Ron, the single most important factor that separates a successful company from its competitors is a rigorous attention to the "little things". He learned this crucial lesson in the NFL huddle, realizing that to earn the respect of the twenty eyeballs looking to him for leadership, he had to know every single player's job just as intimately as his own. Today, he uses that same meticulous attention to detail to lead his staff and set a positive tempo for his organization.
3. Maintaining Connections Through Zoom. Although he strongly prefers face-to-face communication because it allows him to accurately read a room and look people directly in the eye, Ron has successfully adapted to the remote work realities of the pandemic. To ensure his team doesn't lose their crucial social connections to "grinding business" all day, he keeps morale high and people loose by hosting virtual Zoom cocktail parties, balancing his intense 12-hour workdays with his naturally infectious optimism.
4. Distilling Shula's Secret to Winning. Embracing every phase of his career—from playing to broadcasting to business—Ron constantly relies on the lessons he absorbed from legendary mentors. He recalled playing for Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history, and noted that despite managing incredible individual superstars like Dan Marino, Shula's entire philosophy distilled down to one simple, daily message: the only way to truly succeed is through absolute teamwork.
