In our last post, we talked about something we learned about success from former Major League Baseball player Joel Adamson. In the first couple of minutes of our conversation with him, he surprised us with how he (and we) shouldn’t set our sights too low, we can (and should) keep looking towards your next goal.
Joel had a baseball career that was shortened by a shoulder injury. He only got to play three years in professional baseball. In those three years, he had some great stories, too. Like the time he struck out Barry Bonds. Or, the time that he got the hit to end a no-hitter by figuring out the famous opposing pitcher’s throwing sequence against him.
But, we wondered how having an injury that made his career that short affected his life after baseball. Was he able to bounce back? Was there other success to find? Or, was that the end of his success and goal setting?
Clearly, from our conversation, that was a difficult situation for him. He didn’t want to spend a lot of time talking about it. His main comment was, “Yeah, that was hard.”
But, here is this key to success. He paused with that comment for a minute, but went on to talk about the things he has been doing since then and how rewarding they are. For example, he coaches in a youth league that includes his son. The powerful thing is that he doesn’t talk about that as something he has settled for. How much he still loves baseball and the focus he has in helping those kids are clearly evident in his enthusiasm and in the details that he talks about in how he is working with them.
Hi is still in baseball (as well as being involved in other things, including other things his kids are doing) and he is still focused. Although what he is focusing on has changed, his ability to focus hasn’t.
Here is the takeaway that we had from Joel on this aspect of his life: Yes, difficult things happen, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be grateful and apply the tools that we used to reach that success for the next phase of our lives. And…helping others with those tools can be pretty rewarding.
In our next blog, we will talk about one particular tool that Joel uses in coaching kids. Not only is it great, but it can also teach us all about reaching our goals. You will not hear advice on success that includes navy beans and a broom handle from anyone else.