The Perfect Game and the Perfect Day

Last Thursday, Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle achieved the ultimate experience as a pitcher. He fired a perfect game! This means that no runner reached base, for any reason. No hits, no walks, no errors, no runners.


The pitcher gets credit for the perfect game. It is assumed that the pitcher has such complete mastery of their opponent that no one has a chance to reach base. The reality is that it takes the whole team to win and make the perfect game happen. First, the offense has to score runs. Second, the pitcher has to make good pitches and not walk anyone. Third, the catcher has to make the right pitch call to feed the confidence of the pitcher. Finally, the fielders can't make an error and probably need to make a great play sometime during the game. Mark Buehrle was the recipient of such a play last week. DeWayne Wise was brought into the game in the ninth inning as a a defensive replacement in center field. The first batter, Gabe Kapler of the Tampa Bay Rays, hit a long drive to deep center field. He sprinted back to the wall jumped and robbed Kapler of a home run. It was an incredible play! Finally, it takes a little bit of luck to throw the complete game. Pat Burrell hit a ball earlier in the game that was inches foul and would have been a double. You might say Buehrle had the perfect day!


How do you create a perfect day for yourself? Can you do it alone? Just as the pitcher is the focal point of the perfect game, you need to be the center of your perfect day. First and foremost, you must decide how you want to spend your day. Most people allow days to just happen. Think of the power you'll have if you define your day and decide what you want and need to do. You create your "must do" and "should do" list for yourself based on your priorities. Can you achieve your perfect day on your own? Of course not! You need to decide who to delegate to, identify your priorities, where others fit in your life, and who you are dependent on. In other words, what do you need from your team? Just as Mark Buehrle depended on his team to score runs, make plays, and be spectacular when needed-you need to create the same dependencies.

Mark Buehrle may never pitch another perfect game (though he went 5 2/3 innings on Tuesday night without a batter reaching base), but he will try every time he goes to the mound. Will you try to have a perfect day every day? Try it and see, you'll be amazed at what you'll accomplish.

Finishing the Job

Last weekend, many of us sat mesmerized watching Tom Watson make history. What are the chances that a 59 year old golfer would make history and win the British Open? He played consistently all four days. As you may know, he was leading by one shot as he teed off at the par four 18th hole. First shot, down the middle-perfect. Second shot-a little long, on the back fringe just off the green. Third shot-again, hit a little hard and went about eight feet past the hole. Now, he has an eight foot putt to make to win the 2009 British Open. It never had a chance and the rest is history.

How often does this happen in the business world? You go through and do everything you need to do except the last item that will finish the job. Sometimes we lose concentration, sometimes we get moved into another role, sometimes we get tired and assume others will pick up the slack. Often, the difference between good and great is just finishing the job!

This is not limited to work. How many books are partially read? How many home projects are in various stages of completion? How about the lawn, garden or kids projects? The bottom line is that it's easy to get distracted and move on to something else that has more promise, is more exciting or has a higher priority. Most of the time, this problem is self-inflicted and we accept more than we can handle.

In order for us to succeed, feel a sense of accomplishment, and eliminate stress from our lives we must learn to finish the job. We must learn to say no, remain focused and make sure any job we take on is completed before we move on to the next one. That doesn't mean we can't be working on several things, but it does mean that we stick to a deadline and stay with a task or project until it's finished.

This is not meant to be a dig on Tom Watson. What he did last weekend was truly remarkable. The bottom line is that he didn't win the tournament and he won't go down in history as the oldest golfer to win a major. I'm sure Mr. Watson would agree, he didn't finish the job!

Culture, Tradition and the All-Star Game

On Tuesday, I watched the 80th (now) annual All-Star game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. It is a tradition in our house to watch the game, or at least the start. I should say, the men in the family feel its a tradition. We've given Mom a pass after the introductions and national anthem. Most years I'm decked out in my Phillie's jersey cheering on the National League. Perhaps I'll put on an old Tigers jersey next year and give the National League a fighting chance!


Although Tuesday's game was a good one, many are real snoozers. In most cases, Joan (Mom) has the right idea to leave after the introductions. Since 1999 when Ted Williams made a dramatic entrance and tipped his hat to the crowd, the favorite sons from the host city have made an appearance to the delight of the crowd and players. Tuesday was no exception. Ozzie Smith, Bob Gibson (the greatest pitcher I've seen), Lou Brock, Red Schoendienst, and Bruce Sutter were honored. The biggest applause came when Stan "The Man" Musial rode in. The 88 year-old legend played in an incredible 24 All-Star games. Why do these guys get the most applause-because of their contributions to the franchise and their history making performances. Baseball is rich in history and tradition. I believe it's the tradition that keeps me coming back night after night and year after year. I know I'm not alone.


What kind of traditions have you set up in your workplace? Traditions lead to culture. So, to ask the question in a different way, what is your culture? What keeps your employees coming back? What traditions have you created for your team, customers, suppliers? Creating a culture is not an overnight event. It takes years for it to set in. Hopefully, the culture is positive, engaging, fun, challenging and creates a productive workplace. Unfortunately, too many companies have a culture that is negative, siloed, and unproductive. They have hired poorly, not trained properly, let gossip run wild and allowed cliques to form. Which culture would you rather work in?

As a leader, it is up to you to create the culture for your organization. The example you set and what you're willing to tolerate will ultimately determine turnover, effort expended and profitability. As long as you're creating a culture, you might as well make it positive! Follow baseball's lead and create traditions that last generations and create a culture that attracts and keeps employees, customer and suppliers.

Lessons from Lou Gehrig

Last Saturday I went to the Phillies game. It was July 4th and was the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's "Luckiest Man" speech. To commerate the occasion, ballplayers and distinguished guests read the speech before each game played that day. In our case, it was Chris Coste, the Phillies former back up catcher. They were powerful words then and are powerful today. It's only two minutes, but that's all Lou could muster. He was dying of ALS which is now called Lou Gehrig's Disease.


There are many who don't know who Lou Gehrig is or what he accomplished. He played in the shadow of Babe Ruth, batting behind him (thus the number 4). Here are some of his accomplishments:

• Graduated from Columbia University. He went there on a football scholarship
• He played for the Yankees from 1925 until 1939 when he took himself out of the line-up and never played again
• Won the triple crown in 1934 with a .363 batting average, 49 home runs and 165 runs batted in
• Hit 493 career home runs
• In 1931, he drove in 184 runs
• Became the first athlete to have his number retired in 1939 when he made his memorable speech
• Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939 after baseball waived the traditional five year waiting period
• Played in 2,130 consecutive games despite 17 fractures in his hands, being hit in the head (no protective head gear in the 30's) several times, and suffered from severe back pain. This record stood until 1995 when Cal Ripken, Jr. broke it with 2,632 consecutive games

How many of us have worked our jobs for over 9 years performing at the top of out game? Granted baseball is a seasonal profession, but I would argue that few of us perform at a level of excellance each and every day. Why is this? Are we tired? Are we mad? Are we victims? Are we not getting enough attention? Are we disappointed in our lives? If the answer is yes to any of these questions then DO SOMETHING PROACTIVE and remedy the situation. Set goals, change habits, and most of all, get a better attitude. Get a coach if you need help-it will change your life. Lou Gehrig went about his business in a professional manner. He didn't seek the limelight, it found him based on his performance. Bill Dickey, the Yankees catcher said the following: "He doesn't need a tribute from anyone. His life and the way he lived were tribute enough. He just went out and did his job every day."

All too often we look for the shortcuts and look to get the attention. Often, we don't do the work, make the calls, do the follow up, thank those who support us or pay attention to the details that build a foundation of success. Rather, we do those activities that get us noticed. Soon, however, the spotlight will burn through the veneer and show the transparency of your actions.

Lou Gehrig stands for dedication, hard work, humility and integrity. He worked hard at his craft, performed consistently at the highest levels and never sought the limelight. How much would his services be worth today. Think Mark Teixeira signing a $180 million dollar (eight years) contract this winter. How much will you be worth if you dedicate yourself to your own success; work hard every day, let others take the spotlight and be in integrity with every action? Lou showed us how to live by dying of ALS. Let's take those lessons and make ourselves better people.

The Beauty of Hustling

How many times have you gone to a professional baseball game and can't believe the lack of hustle? I go to about 75 games a year, from high school to professional. The more the player gets paid, the less they're apt to run out a grounder or a pop up. Unfortunately, I've seen it too many times at the high school level. Why does this happen? I suppose that the more experience you have, the more you assume the outcome. So, if a player has hit a grounder to short hundreds of times in his career and been thrown out hundreds of times, why bother making the effort?

The same can be said in life. How many times have we had the same experience that we automatically assume the ending? How many times have we been thrown out at first? The problem is, every time we take this attitude, we give up. By giving up, we lose energy, drive and the will to succeed. This creates a malaise that carries over in all aspects of life. What's a leader to do?

First and foremost, a leader has to set the example. She has to be the one running out each grounder or pop-up. In life, we create routines based on our habits and the results we've achieved from those habits. So, how hard is it to perform the routine well rather than half-hearted? A great leader demands precision, focus and attention to detail with a focus on top performance and improved results. I have found in my life if I assume the outcome without the effort, I will be severely disappointed. If a player, worker or family member is not "busting it" everyday they must be counseled on the right way of doing things. If this doesn't work, more drastic steps will need to be taken.

Until last year, we as a society were complacent in our routines. There were more jobs than people to fill them. It allowed us to take short cuts and go through the motions. Those days are long gone. There are plenty of qualified people to take our place. Or, you might find yourself out of work because you weren't hustling every day.

Let's go back to our baseball analogy. What if a player did hustle down the line every play? Think of Pete Rose, the all-time leader in hits. I suspect that 20% of the time the player will beat out a hit or force an error. Over time, the player will get a reputation as a hustler and the defense will have to take this into account every time he's at bat. It changes the game!

As you go back to work after this wonderful holiday weekend, think about changing your game. Be a hustler. Have fun, work hard and become an example for other. You will get more out of your day and create the leader within. Good luck and let's hear from you!