Last Saturday, I officially retired from my 7-week career as a little league coach, leading a group of eight 6-8 year-olds to a strong record of 0-0 (it was coaches-pitch and we didn’t keep score). In all seriousness, it was a blast. These kids showed up every practice and game just to have fun and try to get a little better. As I watched them grow, I couldn’t help but notice the obvious lessons that could apply to anyone trying to create great things.
Lesson 1 – Everybody swings differently, but you have to hold the bat right
One of the first “game-changing” lessons any young hitter learns is how to hold the bat. Most people naturally want to lay it across their palms, when it should lay across the first set of knuckles on each hand. I could go into a lot more detail, but just trust me on it.
Each of my players brought a different swing to the plate. Some had big, looping swings and others had short, choppy ones. Some didn’t know how to stand. However, when each kid started holding the bat the right way, he started hitting the ball well.
As we all aim to positively impact the world around us, start with passion. We each bring our own style – some people come across as timid and others cocky, some facilitate and others direct, etc. Whatever your flavor, you’ll be more effective if you’re working toward something you’re passionate about. Your authenticity in bringing your passion to life is the extra oomph that leads to more growth and more satisfaction with life.
Lesson 2 – Envision Accomplishing Big Things
Most of my guys had played before, but there was one who was smaller and had noticeably less skill than the rest. He gave me one of my favorite moments of the season.
In most practices, he struggled to make contact when hitting. He stayed determined and gradually got a little better. At one of the last practices, though things started clicking a little more. After 4-5 pitches, he hit one that still didn’t go far, but it was his best hit all season. After everyone cheered, I asked him if he could give me one more just like it. He replied, “I’m going to give you two more like it! And they’re going over everyone’s heads. Guys…Back Up!” Now, he didn’t hit it over anyone’s head, but he will one day.
Have that vision of yourself accomplishing great things, and then work to make it become reality.
Lesson 3 – Your Opportunity May Look Different Than You Want It To
This league required coaches to rotate players through different positions from game-to-game. Inevitably, every kid wanted to play first base and pitcher, so they were disappointed when they had to play elsewhere.
In one memorable inning, a kid had to play second base when he really didn’t want to. He didn’t feel like it had enough action and that he’d get bored. He accepted that I wasn’t changing anything and settled into the role. A few plays later, the ball came right to him and he turned a rare double play. He still talked about it weeks later.
You never know where your opportunity will come from. You can bust your ass trying to create opportunity, but it might look different than you expect or want. If you aren’t open to it or don’t put your best effort into it, you might miss it completely.
Lesson 4 – Take a Breath
This became our mantra as we moved through the season. Every one of these kids had family at the games, and they all wanted to do well for their team. At such a young age, this created tension and anxiety, especially when hitting. After throwing a couple of pitches, I could tell if they were wrapped up in the pressure, so we’d stop and take a deep breath.
This small “reset” would rein in their focus, boost their confidence and calm their minds. In most cases, they got a great hit in the next few pitches.
As you grow in your impact, remember to take a breath sometimes. If things are coming at you too fast to handle, or you’re under a lot of pressure, there’s usually a solid path out of it. Take a few minutes to take a breath and reset. It’ll open your clarity and creativity, and you’ll give yourself every chance to succeed.
As a final thought, if you ever get to coach a young person in anything…sports, life, whatever…do it. You’ll gain so much from the experience.
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