… don’t EVER pick up a baseball bat unless a grown-up hands one to you.
It was my opening speech to the small circle of five- and six-year old girls I am coaching this year. Yes, I had a speech. As a copywriter, communicating exactly what you want your audience to understand is key. As a coach, ensuring a concussion-free season is smart. And as much as my husband would disagree, typing up a three-page speech for t-ball players is not over thinking it.
It’s about having a plan, and plans keep me from going crazy.
In an ad agency environment, chaos is something most creatives thrive on. With the help of organized management, good account execs, and a responsive billing department, even the busiest day isn’t heart attack inducing. It’s stimulating. As much as a handful of last-minute requests or edits can stress one’s system, I actually work best when things get crazy. But I always have a to-do list.
Even when it comes to t-ball.
With an economic slow-down in progress, I figured missing a few hours in the afternoon one day a week wouldn’t kill my career. So I volunteered to be Assistant Coach for my daughter Jamie’s t-ball team. Problem was, they didn’t need an Assistant Coach. They needed a Head Coach. Being there for my daughter was something I definitely didn’t need to be convinced of. – I just wasn’t sure how it would work out in terms of balancing the coaching with working.
Thankfully, Mother Nature intervened. With a ton of rain in April and early May, our practices and games were canceled left and right. And rather than getting nervous about being a clueless coach, I got a chance to come up with a plan.
Despite that plan, and the three-page speech, I found little league wasn’t so much a lesson in playing a game, but partnering with others. It was like work, only with much more adorable clients.
What do work and little league have in common? Here’s what I’ve learned so far:
#1 – Planning is great, but be ready to improvise.
Even with the best processes in place, things can surprise you. Be prepared, but be flexible and positive about change.
#2 – It’s up to you to make things happen.
A lot of people complain that work or life isn’t fair. But if you go after what you want, you have a much better chance of getting it than you do by waiting for it.
#3 – A little encouragement goes a long way.
Hard work and a good attitude should be a universal law, but it’s not. By recognizing individual effort and enthusiasm, you show you care just as much about making the ride fun as you do the final destination.
Turns out the three page speech was a bit overzealous – running the bases at the end of each game is the girls’ favorite part of t-ball – but considering we’re still concussion-free (knock on any wooden bats you may have), I’d say it did its job.
Author Bio:
Christy Parker, Alstin's Creative Manager, has barraged us with brainstorms for more than 15 years. A multitasking copywriter who teaches head-first slides to her daughter's t-ball team, Christy believes equal parts ignorance and confidence - and regular shopping sprees - are all you need to succeed.
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