Making Your Own Luck

We've had a tough spring in Philadelphia.  Though the Flyers and 76er's made good playoff runs, the Fightin' Phils have stumbled and bumbled along.  There are many reasons which begin to sound like excuses after awhile.  Among the wreckage, our 2nd best pitcher, Cliff Lee, has yet to win a game.  This is incredible on so many levels.  He is arguably one of the top 10 pitchers in the Major League.  He has been dominant for the last few years.  This year, Lee is 0-3 in 11 starts with a 3.48 earned run average.  For his first few starts, he was the victim of poor hitting and fielding.  But in his last two starts, he has given up 3 run leads late in the game.  A pitcher of his caliber should hold a lead of three runs.  Over his last six starts, his earned run average is a pedestrian 4.87. 

It seems to me that Cliff Lee is reading his own press clippings.  In other words, it's a self-fulfilling prophecy.  He appears to be a man doomed to not getting support.  Baseball is a mental game and you need to be mentally sharp to be your best.  Cliff Lee has not brought his "A" game recently.

Another leadership lesson for all of us.   There is a saying I heard many years ago, "the harder you work, the luckier you get."  I don't know the author, but they were very wise.  The moment we become resigned to a fate based on others performance, we lose control of our goals and who we are as a person.  Good leaders look for these red flags and help those in such a situation.  I hope Charlie Manuel, manager of the Phillies, is that type of leader and gets Cliff Lee back on track.  Are you watching your team ?  As individuals, we need to find a way to make our own luck.  The stakes are too high not to make the effort.