Almost Had It…

Baseball season is just about here, and in our house that is always a good thing. My family has always loved sports, and baseball in particular has a special place with us. Our boys played for years when they were growing up, and now it is a real joy watching our grandchildren start to pick up a glove and swing a bat of their own.

There is just something about baseball that feels timeless. You can sit at the ballpark on a warm evening with a hot dog and a drink and watch the game unfold one pitch at a time. Or you can sit on the couch at home and watch your favorite team night after night whether they win or lose.

It is relaxing and competitive at the same time. It is simple on the surface, yet incredibly strategic underneath. When a team works together and everything comes together just right, it is almost like watching a little bit of science mixed with art.

A few years ago my wife and I were at a professional game, and something happened that still makes me laugh when I think about it.

You know how every fan secretly hopes that someday a home run ball will come flying right toward them. I have been to a lot of games over the years, and I have come close a few times. But I have never caught one.

This particular night it was the late innings and the game was tight. The batter connected and sent a ball high into the air toward center field. Right toward our section and right toward us. I jumped up out of my seat like a kid on Christmas morning. My eyes were locked on that ball. This was my moment.

What did my wife do? She ducked and covered.

The ball sailed just over my hands. It bounced behind us, and for a brief moment I thought I might still grab it on the rebound. But it was gone just as fast as it came. And when I looked down there was my wife crouched down protecting herself like a storm had just rolled through the ballpark.

She is one of the biggest baseball fans I know. She follows the players. She knows their stories. She even knows a bit about their families (not in a creepy way, or anything). But when that baseball came flying toward her, she wanted nothing to do with catching it.

Later that evening when the replay of the game came on TV we fast forwarded to that moment. And there it was. A grown man jumping up and down trying to catch a baseball. And right next to him his wife ducking like the ball had been launched from a cannon.

I still laugh every time I think about it.

So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!

That moment at the ballpark reminded me of something simple but powerful. People are different. We all have different instincts, strengths, and comfort zones. And sometimes the reason a team works well together is because those differences complement each other.

In that moment at the ballpark I was the one trying to catch the ball. My wife was the one making sure she did not get hit by it. Two completely different reactions. But together they made perfect sense.

Business works the same way. Some people are natural creators, some are great communicators, some love the technical side and some are incredible at building relationships.

The mistake many people make when starting an online business is thinking they have to be good at everything and the truth is you do not.

What you really need is awareness. Awareness of your own strengths. Awareness of where you need help. And the humility to learn from people who already know how to do the things you are still figuring out.

Here Are Five Simple Reminders About Strengths And Community

1. Know what you naturally enjoy doing. Your strengths often hide inside the things you enjoy learning and practicing the most.
2. Do not try to master everything at once. Trying to be the pitcher, catcher, and shortstop at the same time usually leads to burnout.
3. Learn from people who are already ahead of you. A good community shortens the learning curve dramatically.
4. Allow others to fill in the gaps. Someone else’s strength may be exactly what you are struggling with.
5. Focus on progress, not perfection. Teams win games by working together over time, not by expecting one player to do everything.

When you start to look at business this way something interesting happens. You stop feeling like you have to figure everything out by yourself. Instead, you start to look for the right environment where people can learn together, grow together, and help each other move forward.

That is often where the real momentum begins.

Now I would love to hear from you. Have you ever had a moment where someone else’s strength helped you move forward in business or in life? Or maybe you realized that something you thought was a weakness was actually just a sign that you needed the right support around you. Leave a comment and share your story.

And if you are someone who wants to build an online business but you do not want to try to figure it all out alone, that is exactly why I often recommend the Internet Profits Academy. It brings together the training, the tools, the coaching, and the community that many people need when they are getting started. Instead of trying to learn every skill on your own you get guidance from people who have already walked the path.

Sometimes the biggest difference between struggling and succeeding is simply being in the right room with the right people.

Now before I wrap this up I should probably admit something. Ever since that game and whenever we are watching baseball on TV and a foul ball goes flying into the crowd, I automatically lean forward like I am about to catch it through the television. My wife just looks at me and I can only imagine what she’s thinking.

“None of us is as smart as all of us.” — Ken Blanchard

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” — Phil Jackson

And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:

I like baseball because even when your team loses you still get nine innings of snacks.

I love watching baseball on TV. It’s the only sport where I can sit on the couch, eat nachos, and still say things like “You gotta hustle out there!”

Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!

 

 

 

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