THE KAIZEN REPORT
#6
The 74th Major League Baseball All-Star game is Tuesday night in Chicago (7:00 pm central, FOX-TV). As I was thinking about the game and how much I enjoyed playing baseball growing up, it reminded me of some valuable life lessons baseball and the All-Stars can teach us.
1. Show up everyday ready to play. Everyday is an opportunity to make a difference and a chance to get better. Not everyday is going to be exciting, but the people you come in contact with will remember you and the impression you left on them. When you come into the office and your key still works to unlock the door, it’s going to be a good day! Take advantage and appreciate the ability and opportunity to work.
2. Every at bat is important. The truly great hitters are always working on improving their swing and trying to get a hit every time they step into the batters box no matter the score or situation. You and I must understand that no sales call, no sales transaction, no returned phone call, or no conversation with any of our customers is unimportant. Every contact matters and shapes how that customer feels about you and your company. Customers want their needs met, and they have come to you to help them. Satisfy that need, and you will always have customers.
3. Never go down looking. Nothing can be more frustrating to a manager than for a hitter to stand at the plate and take three called strikes. If you never swing, you’ll never even have the chance to put the ball in play. My brother used to tell me when I was playing basketball at Lipscomb University that you can’t score if you don’t shoot (He and Coach Meyer weren’t on the same page!). But it’s true! Get the bat off your shoulder and do something. If you do something wrong at least you know what not to do next time.
4. Take calculated risks. When the count is 3 balls and 2 strikes and a runner is on first base with one out, it’s a good time to try and steal second. The hitter will probably make contact with the ball if it is in the strike zone or will walk if it is out of the strike zone. Either way, the runner has a good chance to make it safely to second and keep the defense from making a double play. But when the count is 0 balls and 2 strikes it is a bad time to steal because the pitcher can throw the ball where the catcher can easily throw a runner out at second base. Baseball is a game of calculated risks and knowing when to take advantage of the situation is the difference in losing and winning. You need to know in your business when it is appropriate to take a chance on a new product, a different market segment or maybe a good employee that needs a second opportunity. That wisdom and experience is the difference between a successful company and an average one.
5. Avoid dumb mistakes. The spectacular home runs and diving catches make the sports highlight shows, but it is the routine play that normally decides the outcome. The team that doesn’t make the errors but rather throws and catches the ball with precision is a very hard team to beat. Mistakes are a natural part of being human and they are going to occur no matter how hard we try. Just don’t make the dumb mistakes where you know better. Keep your head in the game! I heard it said recently on the sports talk radio show that a major league team will win 54 games and lose 54 games in a season. But the differences between the teams are how they handle the other 54 games. You are going to have good days and bad days, but what you do on the other days says a lot about who you are and your character. Make today a great day!
Do you have other things that I haven’t thought of? Let me know! Your feedback in important to me. Go to The Kaizen Report and tell me.
Your friend,
Greg Eubanks
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