As the east coast prepares for Hurricane Irene, I'm reminded of the havoc rain and weather delays can have on outdoor sports. Just last weekend, the Phillies and Nationals had two games that were interrupted by rain. I can say with confidence that the Phillies would have won one of the two games against the Nationals last weekend if their starting pitcher could have stayed in the game. They didn't and their bullpen failed. This weekend, many baseball games scheduled for Sunday in the mid-Atlantic and northeast have been moved to Saturday afternoon for a double header. I suspect some teams will be at a disadvantage moving the games around this weekend. The good teams will figure out a way to adjust and win, others won't.
So it is in life. You plan the next day before going home at night and it all goes up in smoke in the first hour the next morning. I've seen many adjust poorly to new and changing priorities. They become paralyzed or work fifteen hour days to attempt to get everything done on their list. We all know how that works out in the long run.
Success is judged on results. Results are achieved by being flexible, understanding the landscape, advanced planning and reacting well to change. Bad things are going to happen, it's how you react to those things that determines your success. When it happens, go to plan B and move on. Adjust on the fly and be the happier for it.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Leadership and Sports: Making the Most of Your Talent
Leadership and Sports: Making the Most of Your Talent: "Last night, one of the good guys of sports, Jim Thome, hit his 600th home run. To put it in perspective, he is the 8th major league player ..."
Making the Most of Your Talent
Last night, one of the good guys of sports, Jim Thome, hit his 600th home run. To put it in perspective, he is the 8th major league player to do so. He has been a consistent player for 21 years. Not extraordinary, but a sure lock for the Hall of Fame given his steady performance throughout his career.
Thome spent 12 years with Cleveland before coming to Philadelphia in 2003. He was the first free agent signing of note and was at the forefront of the current success of the Phillies. He was traded to the White Sox to make room for Ryan Howard after the 2005 season. He hit nearly 100 home runs in a Phillies uniform, but more importantly, brought the franchise out of its malaise and made other free agents look seriously at coming to Philadelphia. He brought life to the Phillies and help usher in Citizen's Bank Park in 2004. He has had a positive impact on every team he's played for-both on and off the field.
Not many of us will have a chance to hit 600 home runs, but we can make a positive impact on our own teams. Like Thome, play to win, hustle every day, give 100%, and perform as if it's your last opportunity. It seems to me the best role models are those who make the most of their talent. They work hard to hone their skills and don't take their success for granted. Thome's legacy may be this: a good guy with talent that worked hard and made others more successful. I, for one, wouldn't mind that as an epitaph on my tombstone some day.
Thome spent 12 years with Cleveland before coming to Philadelphia in 2003. He was the first free agent signing of note and was at the forefront of the current success of the Phillies. He was traded to the White Sox to make room for Ryan Howard after the 2005 season. He hit nearly 100 home runs in a Phillies uniform, but more importantly, brought the franchise out of its malaise and made other free agents look seriously at coming to Philadelphia. He brought life to the Phillies and help usher in Citizen's Bank Park in 2004. He has had a positive impact on every team he's played for-both on and off the field.
Not many of us will have a chance to hit 600 home runs, but we can make a positive impact on our own teams. Like Thome, play to win, hustle every day, give 100%, and perform as if it's your last opportunity. It seems to me the best role models are those who make the most of their talent. They work hard to hone their skills and don't take their success for granted. Thome's legacy may be this: a good guy with talent that worked hard and made others more successful. I, for one, wouldn't mind that as an epitaph on my tombstone some day.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Dream Big!
The past few weeks, we've seen the induction of new members in the baseball hall of fame and football hall of fame. Most are humbled at the experience-of being the elite of the elite. Think of all the kids who play little league baseball and how few actually play the game at the major league level. Hall of famers are even more stratified. Last night, football had their night and inducted 7 new members including Deion Sanders. 267 men out of all that have played are in the hall.
I was working out this morning and caught some of Deion's speech. I have never been a fan of "Primetime" but enjoyed his talent. This morning, I heard a different man. I urge you to take the time to listen to his speech if you haven't already. He spoke of his Mama and all she did for him. He made a promise to her at age 7, he would make enough money to ensure she would never have to work again. That was the dream that fueled him to stardom. He had these quotes about dreams. "The problem with some dreams is they are only about you. If your dream ain't bigger than you, there's a problem with your dream."
Dreams are important to all of us. They need to sustain us throughout our lives. We can't stop dreaming when we finish school or we settle into a routine. Dreams are energy, excitement, hope. But Deion is right, they have to be bigger than you. They are about making a positive impact, motivation, improvement, learning and growing. Day to day, it's hard to push past just getting by. Our dreams need to motivate us to work a little harder, extend our comfort zones a little further, smile a little broader and engage a little longer.
I realized a couple of months ago that I stopped dreaming. My wife's recovery from a brain injury has rejuvenated my dreaming. I have moved from always trying to be right to trying to do what is right. So my dreams are motivating me to do a little more each day to make myself better in order to make others better.
I have some big dreams that I'll keep to myself, but hopefully will unfold over time. They help me get up in the morning and usually sleep soundly at night. Think about your dreams. Dream big and dream often!
I was working out this morning and caught some of Deion's speech. I have never been a fan of "Primetime" but enjoyed his talent. This morning, I heard a different man. I urge you to take the time to listen to his speech if you haven't already. He spoke of his Mama and all she did for him. He made a promise to her at age 7, he would make enough money to ensure she would never have to work again. That was the dream that fueled him to stardom. He had these quotes about dreams. "The problem with some dreams is they are only about you. If your dream ain't bigger than you, there's a problem with your dream."
Dreams are important to all of us. They need to sustain us throughout our lives. We can't stop dreaming when we finish school or we settle into a routine. Dreams are energy, excitement, hope. But Deion is right, they have to be bigger than you. They are about making a positive impact, motivation, improvement, learning and growing. Day to day, it's hard to push past just getting by. Our dreams need to motivate us to work a little harder, extend our comfort zones a little further, smile a little broader and engage a little longer.
I realized a couple of months ago that I stopped dreaming. My wife's recovery from a brain injury has rejuvenated my dreaming. I have moved from always trying to be right to trying to do what is right. So my dreams are motivating me to do a little more each day to make myself better in order to make others better.
I have some big dreams that I'll keep to myself, but hopefully will unfold over time. They help me get up in the morning and usually sleep soundly at night. Think about your dreams. Dream big and dream often!
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