In 1983, I got drafted and signed with the Minnesota Twins. It was the most significant event in my life at 21 years old. In 1984, I got released after only one season of A ball…not a very long career.
Here are my stats:
Four years earlier, Kent Hrbek got drafted, played in the same league, and had these stats:
By 1981, Hrbek was in the big leagues where he played for 14 years, helped win two World Series, and now resides in the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame. Despite my numbers being average, they were better than Hrbek’s. BUT Hrbek had IT.
I vowed to have IT in my professional career and take away all the lessons from my years playing baseball from Little League and professionally. The question was, how do I get IT?
Some of the foundational rules for living The Fantastic Life were formed in the first few years after I was released:
Rule #14: Two kinds of Pain–The pain of discipline or the pain of regret. I loved that I got drafted, and I took that lesson learned over getting passed over in the draft for four years to finally reach the goal as a sign that discipline works.
Rule #8: Play where you can win. I took my baseball career as far as my talents would allow me to go. For my career, I wanted an environment where I would bet on myself and have the ability to win or lose based on my skills and work ethic.
Rule #5: Make Sacrifices. I look back and can honestly say no one outworked me. I sacrificed a ton, but so did my wife, family, and everyone on my team.
It’s critical to take some time to learn your IT. Go make your Fantastic Life. While this is pretty serious and deep, below is a great, fun article from Harvey Mackay on lessons from baseball. Harvey is still working on the rules I listed above.
Rule #4 from my book The Fantastic Life: Play Where You Can Win
It bears repeating — we all have unique abilities. We all have IT in different areas of our lives. Instead of forcing yourself to try to have a skill that isn’t meant for you, focus on your strengths, and get a win where you can.
Some gems of lessons come from a diamond
By Harvey Mackay
August 10, 2020
I know it’s already August, but this summer my thoughts can finally turn to the crack of the bat as I watch my Minnesota Twins “Bomba Squad” launch dinger after dinger. As much as I love basketball and football, there’s a certain magic about the great national pastime.
For me, baseball is a learning experience, full of life lessons.
In one “Peanuts” cartoon, Charlie Brown is having a bad day. He strikes out for the third straight time. In disgust, he says, “Rats!”
Back in the dugout, he laments to Lucy, “I’ll never be a big-league ballplayer. All my life, I’ve dreamed of playing in the big leagues, but I just know I’ll never make it.”
Lucy responds, “You’re thinking way too far ahead, Charlie Brown. What you need are more immediate goals.”
“Immediate goals?” Charlie asks.
“Yes,” Lucy says. “Start right now with this next inning. When you go out to pitch, see if you can walk out to the mound without falling down.”
Moral: Most importantly, goals need to be realistic: beyond your grasp but within your reach in the foreseeable future.
When it comes to getting things done, I have a philosophy: “Find a way, or make one.” I don’t tolerate excuses, and you shouldn’t either.
A high school baseball coach was frustrated with his first baseman, who made error after error. At practice, the coach grabbed a glove to show the player how it should be done. The first grounder took a bad hop and clobbered him in the chest. Next came a pop-up that he lost in the sun, and it smashed into his forehead. Later, a wild throw from the shortstop caused him to stretch, tearing his pants. Exasperated, the coach turned to his first baseman and shouted, “You’ve got this position so messed up, even I can’t do a thing with it.”
Moral: The person who wants to do something finds a way; the person who doesn’t finds an excuse.
We all have weaknesses, whether it’s baseball or business.
Baseball great Stan Musial was having a field day against the Chicago Cubs’ pitcher Bobo Newsom. Stan “the Man” first slammed a single, then a triple and a home run. When he came to bat for the fourth time, the Chicago manager decided to yank Bobo and take a chance on a rookie relief pitcher. The rookie trudged in from the bullpen, took the ball from Bobo, and asked, “Has this guy Musial got any weaknesses?”
“Yeah,” replied Bobo, “he can’t hit doubles.”
Moral: The greatest of all weaknesses is to be conscious of none.
Maintaining a good reputation can help you in bad circumstances by giving you the benefit of the doubt.
Rogers Hornsby, considered to be among the greatest right-handed hitters in baseball history, had a lifetime batting average of .358. In 1924, he hit .424 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He also had a reputation for excellence, good judgment and integrity.
The story goes that Hornsby came to bat one day against a flashy rookie pitcher with a blazing fastball.
Whoosh went the first pitch to Hornsby, who kept his bat cocked.
“Ball one,” said the umpire.
Second pitch and third pitches, same story.
Angry and frustrated, the young pitcher shouted at the umpire, “Those three pitches were all strikes!”
“Young man,” said the umpire, “when you throw a strike, Mr. Hornsby will let you know.”
Moral: You can’t buy a good reputation; you must earn it.
I often get asked when I am going to retire. I’m still active as chairman of MackayMitchell Envelope Co., I maintain a schedule of corporate speeches, write this nationally syndicated weekly column, manage my Harvey Mackay Academy and I recently finished my eighth book, “You Haven’t Hit Your Peak Yet!” In short, I’m too busy to retire.
Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder Paul Waner was asked when he would know when it was time to quit baseball.
“Well,” said Waner, “as you get older, you slow down and the infielders back up, because they’ve got more time to throw you out at first base. At the same time, you lose a little power, so the outfielders move in because you aren’t hitting the ball so far.” Then he added, “When they can shake hands, you’ve had it.”
Moral: A person doesn’t become old until regrets take the place of dreams.
Mackay’s Moral: No matter when the season begins, start business “spring training” so you can win the World Series.