In our last couple of blogs, we have talked about our discussion with Joel Adamson. From a young age, he was really good at both pitching and hitting and he made his way to the Major Leagues. After only three short years, he had shoulder surgery that would end his career in MLB.
As he was looking at what to do after baseball, Joel’s approach was, “What’s next?” He knew that, just as people helped him (his father (as his first coach), other coaches, other people who cared about him), he wanted to help others and stay involved in baseball. You don’t have to talk with Joel very long to find out how passionate and focused he is about everything he does. As an example, he told us, “Our family enjoys what we do and are competitive. If you come to a family reunion and play anything (like darts or horseshoes), you better bring your A game.”
So, when Joel began to tell us about coaching and teaching young people, we guessed that we would see his passion and focus fairly quickly. And, we were looking forward to seeing how he brought that to the young people he was giving back to.
We didn’t have to wait long. He told us about a teaching method for hitting that was our next lesson in success. His method includes a navy bean, a broom handle and feedback. He gives the broom handle to the young person he is coaching and, then, tosses a navy bean to them. Of course, at first, most don’t get anywhere close to hitting it. But, as he helps them adjust their swing (“you were a little low that time, swing a little higher”) or encourages them (“you are doing great – keep your eye on the bean, focus on it”), they will get to the point where they make contact. Then, he tosses the beans to them one at a time in groups of fifteen beans.
Joel says, “…they will get to a point where they will foul one off.” Then, with a lot of praise (“see, you are getting it…you made contact…you can do this…”), they start to really hit it. It isn’t long from that point that they hit two in a row, three in a row, eight in a row and are hitting ten or twelve out of the fifteen. At that point, there is a lot of praise and a lot of excitement. And, Joel says, then when they get a real bat and they are swinging at a real ball, it looks like a watermelon coming to them.
Here are some lessons for all of us in Joel’s teaching method. In the things we are trying to accomplish, how good is our focus? If we break down what we are trying to do into things that we can practice and get really good at each one of them – then when we get to the actual task, we can make it easy to accomplish and succeed.
Here are some examples, if you are in sales, what is the part you struggle with? Break it down, immerse yourself in practicing that piece of the process – when you are in front of the person, succeeding in that part can look like a watermelon coming to you. If you want to start your own business, focus on the tasks you will need to do and really work on how you will get them done well. Then, when you launch, major parts of what you will need to do will be in place. If you are out of shape, how can you break down the things you need to do into things that you can turn into habits and do well in?
Something else to think about: If you lead people (at work, in your family, at church, etc.), how can you help them succeed? How can you help them see the pieces of what they need to do clearly and do well? How can you help them succeed in those pieces?
Lastly, we need to make sure that we don’t underestimate positive enthusiasm and feedback. Words and energy matter. I once read that it takes ten positive comments to counter the effects of one negative one. I don’t know if that is accurate or not, but it seems like it could be. Helping people succeed and celebrating with them along the path can be great for the people we care about and it is rewarding to us. But, for most of us, that doesn’t necessarily come naturally (especially when we are dealing with our own lives). So, we need to do what we can to make habits of helping and celebrating.
May all of your navy beans turn into watermelons. And, may you help others to see watermelons, too.