If there was one thing I wanted to see at HIMSS2016, it was Peyton Manning’s closing keynote. Everything just fell into place perfectly for him to be the speaker. He was planned to speak long before he won the Superbowl. It just made it better.
What did he say?
First off…you KNOW he cracked a few jokes! The five-time NFL most valuable player and two-time Super Bowl winner was in Las Vegas to talk about leadership, communication and hard work, he said. But first, he couldn’t resist getting in a couple jokes about his side-gig as a commercial pitchman for Nationwide Insurance and Papa John’s Pizza. You knew the plug was coming! Then he want on to say “I cannot give you any business advice, but I can tell you that due to some recent law changes in Colorado, the pizza business has been pretty good,” said Manning, alluding to the recent legalization of marijuana in the state. “A lot of late night orders.” As for Nationwide, that sing-song seven-note tagline has “taken on a life of its own,” he said. “People don’t speak to me, they jingle to me.”
For the topic in hand, he stated: “I’ve been on the receiving end of your efforts,” the often-injured quarterback told the crowd of healthcare professionals. “I can’t even come close to doing what you do.” Funny hearing that from the greatest Quarterback to ever have played the game!
Thanks Peyton. We’ll miss you.
