TUNNEY-SIDE-OF-THE-STREET

#33 August 15, 2005

Welcome to this week's message from the Tunney-Side-Of-The-Street. You are encouraged to share this with fellow workers, family and friends.

I love baseball. Always have. As a kid, my dream was to pitch for the New York Yankees. I had the will but not the skill to play at that level. I did, however, play sandlot ball (dirt really - no grass), and on high school and college teams.
Baseball taught me many things. I learned that my part was only a part - one of nine. I learned that my teammates were counting on me to "make the play" and I learned I could do it. At times, though - bases loaded, score tied, the other team's best hitter at bat - I would say to myself "Don't hit the ball to me" - fearful that I would make an error and we'd lose. The loss would be my fault. Ouch!
Over the years I learned to overcome that lack of self-confidence and "step-up" to make the play. I learned not be afraid to fail. Baseball helped me to build self-confidence under pressure. It also taught me to believe in my teammates and to support them when, and if, they made an error.
Mostly, however, it taught me to "think ahead". Get this picture: runners on first and second, one out. If the ball is hit to me as the second baseman, what will I do? If it goes to my left, can I make the double play? How about a pop fly? Is the infield fly rule in effect? That "thinking ahead" is called "mental rehearsing". Other sports often don't give a player that much time to think about the next play. Baseball gives a player the opportunity to think ahead. And that "mental rehearsing" carries over into adult life.
Some critics of baseball in today's "Fast Food Generation" are critical of the game being too slow. "Speed it up", they say; yet the players in the game are constantly doing a lot of thinking ahead. I saw that in the Bronco World Series played recently here at Jacks Park in Monterey, California. What a great experience for young people to be part of a competition that encourages thinking ahead, sportsmanship and fun. Those values will serve them well - now and in adulthood.
Will you mentally rehearse before it's your turn to make the play?

Look for my new book
It's the Will, Not the Skill
Principles and philosophies of success

For more information about Jim Tunney, go to www.jimtunney.com

ARTICLE TAGLINE FOR JIM TUNNEY, Ed.D., CSP, CPAE

Copyright © 2003 Jim Tunney. All rights reserved.
You can visit Jim's website at http://www.jimtunney.com

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