108 years.
2016 was a glorious year. I had cancer ripped from my body, a stroke did minimal damage to my brain, and the Cubs won the World Series!
This last Christmas, I received the book, The Cub Way: The Zen of Building the Best Team in Baseball and Breaking the Curse, by Tom Verducci. I’ve been plugging through it for a while now, 15 minutes a night (just like my teacher told me to read!), but a few nights ago, it was hit by something.
#nonotacar
I’d gotten to a chapter called, The Zen of Joe, where the current manager of the Cubs, Joe Maddon, had just been hired. His first task, meet up with Javy Baez, a rookie at the time playing in Puerto Rico. Javy had been called up and made an impact on the Cubs organization (I loved the description of batting practice), but had issues with strike outs and emotional outbursts. As Maddon watched his budding super star, he could tell that Baez was trying to impress him, going 0 for 9 with six strikeouts. Madden pulled him aside and simply told him:
” ‘Hit a couple of singles,’ Maddon told Baez, ‘and above all, I want to see you smile.’ “
Baez had 3 hits in his next 8 at bats, and Maddon was on his way with his player, laying the foundation on a connection with him. This is the way the entire book reads, as one big connection to players, to his own bosses, to the fans, the connection that have to be made. As I read, I got more and more excited because his style is completely my style as well.
Next, we learned a little bit about Joe’s father and how he would “respond not with a complaint, but patience and positivity. Joey saw it. He believed his father never had a bad day in his life.” I’m pretty sure my kids cannot say the same about me!! 🙂
#gooddaybaddayyourchoice
Then, the sayings: Attitude Is A Decision. Every Day Counts. 9=8 (9 players, playing hard for nine innings equals one of the 8 teams in the playoffs.) All Aboard Maddon’s Bus. There’s a Different Bus Driver Every Day. Get Loud. Write it down, see it, and believe it, have it engrained into your soul. Then, it started into the “13 core principles of managing, according to Joe Maddon. After reading that, I was up half the night. Pretty sure I got two hours of sleep, because it just made me feel that so much of what I’ve been doing for so long matters. His first principle:
- Make a personal connection first; everything else follows.
#dang
I’ve been fairly angry/disappointed/irritated at being constantly called “the relationship guy”. I was approached by my principal to move from 8th grade because of my ability to form/create relationships with students. I wasn’t asked, I was told this was going to happen (all though it was done in the most positive way possible). I’ve really not felt good about this move because I’m doing a bit of floundering and my 8th grade team was second to none.
However, I’m a quarter in, and I’m enjoying my sixth grade team, their humor and wit about our profession is refreshing. The fact I’m in a group chat is hilarious (even though I do know what a group chat is, unlike some of my co-workers!). My sixth graders are like sixth graders, and I love them to pieces. And I’m getting used to being “the relationship guy”. I’m not sure it’s who I am, or what I want to be, but it fits how I work in the classroom. And I guess that’s ok.
And, after seeing a major league manager, one of the architects of the Cubs 2016 World Series is a relationship guy, I’m ok going forward being that guy too. 🙂
November 13, 2018 at 9:18 pm
Great reminder about the importance of the personal connections. I like the 9=8 thing. I also like the idea of just getting up and working on hitting singles. Not everything has to be out of the park. Loved your slice.
November 14, 2018 at 6:29 am
I agree about the idea of 9 = 8. I’m trying to figure a way to incorporate that into my classroom. 19 = 12, 19 students working hard together equals everyone successfully passing 12th grade. I don’t know, but it’s a good thing to think about! Thank you for your thoughts!
November 13, 2018 at 10:02 pm
Even as an amateur, I feel confident saying that long-lasting relationships rely on fouling off the toughest pitches and scratching out singles. Thanks for this baseball reading slice.
November 14, 2018 at 6:25 am
I love that idea of scratching out singles in relationship building. Every attempt will not be knocked out of the park, but every attempt can be building towards success. Thank you for your thoughts! 🙂
November 14, 2018 at 6:44 am
It’s sometimes hard to embrace who we are but even more difficult to understand what that is, you have accomplished both. I am sure that authenticity is what makes you a cherished coach, team member, educator, friend, and father. Side note: I wish once I could write a comment like Brian Rozinsky. (LOL) I am going to work on that smile and hit singles thing this week, I think I’ve been aiming at the fences and striking out A LOT. Thanks for the wisdom. sk
November 14, 2018 at 3:00 pm
You know, if you could just send me stuff like this every day, I’d send you chocolate in return! 🙂 I’ve been striking out a lot lately as well, but have shortened my swing and now, I’m at least making contact. Thank you for the thoughts! 🙂
November 14, 2018 at 5:30 pm
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