If you followed the NFL this year, then you know who Darrelle Revis is.

Playing in only his third season, he has quickly made a name for himself as a premier cornerback in the NFL. Drafted by the NY Jets in 2007, he has played a crucial role in transforming their defense from mediocre to marvelous.

The Jets were ranked 20th in defense in 2006. This year they finished the regular season ranked #1.

Ok, that’s great, but what am I going to learn from a 24 year old NFL player?

The best way to lead is by example. To be a great leader, you have to walk the walk before you can talk the talk. Darrelle Revis does this in many ways, but there are three lessons that apply whether you’re leading a team on the football field or in the office.

We’ll review those three lessons, take a look at how Revis does it, and then see what we can learn from his example.

1. Be the Best at What You Do

We already know that Revis is a premier cornerback in the NFL.

Many of the analysts and coaches are even starting to think he’s the best all-around defensive player in the league.

HOW REVIS DOES IT

Like many other superior athletes, Revis has always been exceptional in sports. He was part of championship winning teams in both football and basketball in high school. He was the best player on both teams.

In 3 years of college (at Pitt) Revis was named to the Freshman and Big East All-American teams. He was nominated for the Jim Thorpe award and made an amazing punt return against West Virginia that would later be named ESPN’s College Football Play of the Year.

He has improved every year since turning pro and is now widely regarded as the best cornerback in the NFL. His ability to shut down some of the best wide receivers in the game has been nothing short of amazing. He’s so good in fact, that his area of the field has been dubbed “Revis Island,” where great receivers get lost.

The cliché of “work smart, not hard” doesn’t apply to Revis. He has accomplished all of this by doing both. He gives a great effort in every practice and outwits his opponents by spending hours in the film room.

WHAT WE CAN LEARN

Becoming the best at anything can be a long road. It requires patience, hard work, and sacrifice. Trying to get there in one big leap will only lead to frustration and failure.

The secret is striving to get better every day.

You cannot become complacent, you cannot stop improving. The Japanese principle of kaizen has been so successful in business because it aims to continually improve every aspect of the company. It keeps people focused and drives the company toward a common goal, forever.

What are you doing to be the best at what you do? Are you just hitting your quotas, or are you leading your company, setting BHAG’s and then doing everything you can to meet and exceed them?

2. Make Your Entire Team Better

The Jets defense is number one in the NFL for many reasons, but Revis is the biggest one. His defensive play allows the other 10 men on the field to be better on every play.

HOW REVIS DOES IT

The great ones always want to match up against the other team’s best player, and Revis is no different.

He covers the best wide receiver every time he is on the field. But he doesn’t just cover them, he completely shuts them down. And he does it in man coverage.

This is remarkable to the say the least, but it’s the overall effect this has on his teammates that really shines through. Being able to shut down receivers like Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne, and Chad Johnson (or ochocinco, whatever that idiot’s name is now) in one-on-one coverage allows his teammates to concentrate more on run defense and double-team other receivers when needed. Control the run, control the game. That’s what Revis brings to the table.

WHAT WE CAN LEARN

The more you can do, the better off your team will be. Consistently going the extra mile sets a precedent of excellence. It raises the bar and shows your team that you’re passionate and committed to reaching your goals.

A great leader can take you far, but it takes a whole company with that level of commitment to create a consistently remarkable experience for your customers. Just ask Tony Hsieh and his Zappos employees. That kind of commitment won’t happen overnight, but you can be a leader like Hsieh and Revis and set the example for everyone else to follow.

Another way to help your team is to share with them what works best for you. If you’ve found a great tactic or a great tool that gives you an edge, then share that with your team. Tell them why it helps you and how you use it. I guarantee you everyone that plays with Revis has gotten better because of him.

What are you doing to help your team?

3. Be Smarter than your Competition

Revis doesn’t shut down the NFL’s best receivers simply because he’s a great athlete. He has a key advantage over them that makes all the difference: he knows their offense as well as they do.

HOW REVIS DOES IT

Revis is reported to spend exorbitant amounts of time in the Jets’ film room. He studies his opponent’s offense and zooms in with laser-like focus on who he’ll be covering the next Sunday.

Charles Robinson, a NFL writer for Yahoo! sports said it best in his January 13th article,

The New York Jets cornerback watches the end-zone angle capturing all 22 players. Three-by-one formations, two-by-two coverages, personnel packages, down-and-distance breakdowns, field position and splits. His eyes will scan it, back and forth, from quarterback to wideout and back again. What receivers do they like to use on certain sets? What does each wideout like to do on first, second and third down? What hand signals is the quarterback using when he audibles? Does he pump fake? If he drops a box of toothpicks, how many hit the ground?

Revis knows that simply outworking the best receivers in the NFL is not enough. Many times they’re taller, bigger, and faster than him. To dominate he has to be able to out-think them, to know their route before they run it, to read a QB’s audible and adjust accordingly. Studying and analyzing hours of film allows him to do that and outsmart the competition.

WHAT WE CAN LEARN

Simply put, knowledge is power. On-the-job training and great managers can teach you a lot, but it is ultimately up to you to put the extra effort in to expand that knowledge and apply it in meaningful ways. We are incredibly fortunate to live in a time where information that used to be expensive is now free and accessible from any internet connection. Read a book, or a blog, listen to a podcast, or watch a lecture online. They’re all full of awesome insights from professors and consultants, PhD’s and industry leaders.

But I work really hard and I have a family; I just don’t have the time!

I hate to be blunt, but that’s total bullshit. I should know, because I used to think the same thing.

If you do believe that, then I would invite you to document everything you do for a week. You might find out that you spend 25 hours a week watching crap on TV and looking at status updates on Facebook. I know I did.

Or you can spend fifteen minutes and watch Gary Vaynerchuk tell you to “Stop watching f@cking Lost.” Skip to 14:18 if you can’t watch the whole thing (but you really should).

It takes a lot to outsmart your competition, but isn’t it worth it? What are you doing to get that edge?

It All Adds Up in the End

As I finish writing this post the Jets have just knocked off the San Diego Chargers and earned themselves a spot in the AFC Championship. The defense was dominant again, holding the Chargers (a team with two Pro Bowl receivers) to just 14 points.

Perhaps we can all share the same success if we can just learn a few lessons from a 24 year old cornerback.