Posts

Posted on

Stats Heaven

Today was supposed to be Opening Day for Major League Baseball, when hope springs eternal; however, Coronavirus has changed so much in this country and around the world. Perhaps this reflection on the National Pastime will brighten someone’s day.

Since my first visit to Arlington Stadium at age 12, when my father taught me how to keep score, I’ve always been fascinated by the statistics of major leaguers. Thus, the genesis for this posting happened more than 30 years ago.

In 1989, I was producing Rangers games for Home Sports Entertainment. One night in August, our color analyst, Norm Hitzges, mentioned on air what an amazing accomplishment it is for a player to get 75 extra base hits (XBH) in a single season. He brought it up because Ruben Sierra – 23 years old and in his fourth year – was on a tear… and, in fact, would end up with 78 XBH (35 doubles, 14 triples, 29 home runs). Alas, despite playing until age 40, Sierra never again reached that lofty plateau, although he did come close two years later, falling just short with 74.

Whether baseball purists and statheads give 75 XBH any credence, for me, the achievement is a measurement of the greatness of the best hitters ever. In my research on baseball-reference.com, I examined the season results of the players ranked in the top: 100 doubles, 100 triples, 150 home runs, 100 slugging percentage, and 200 WAR (Wins Against Replacement, which is a respected measurement of career achievement). I also looked at more than 100 players who weren’t on any of those lists.

World War II and the Korean War disrupted the careers of several Hall of Famers – and the ’81 and ’94 strike-shortened seasons impacted recent players. Then again, there are many who achieved it during the steroid era. Draw your own conclusions.

If you’d like to dive into the rabbit hole with me, click here.

Posted on

Peace Offering

“These are the times that try men’s souls.”

The first sentence of Thomas Paine’s The American Crisis, a series of 13 pamphlets – think of them as 18th century blog posts – published soon after the Declaration of Independence. During periods of prosperity those eight words rest in quiet slumber. Then when the next disruption arises, they awaken to remind us to remain strong.

The War of 1812. The Civil War. World War I. The Great Depression. World War II. Vietnam. Watergate. October 1987 crash. September 11. The Great Recession. Traumatic events in our history. Yet, we made it through these darkest of days.

Now we’re faced with the uncertainty of the Coronavirus. People are sick and dying. The stock market is in Bear territory. The Saudis and Russia engaged in a standoff that sent oil prices plunging. A global recession could be on the horizon.

While it’s time to take smart health and financial action, it is not time to lose hope. Talk with your customers and employees. Adjust where you need. Keep the faith.

And consider the next sentence of Paine’s first missive… one you may have never heard: “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”

Posted on

Yes, Indeed

You’ve probably had the experience many times of navigating automatic phone prompts before getting to speak to a live person. Often the last thing you hear is: “To participate in a brief customer service survey, please stay on the line at the end of the call.” There are typically multiple questions to answer on a scale of 1-low to 5-high.

A couple weeks ago I was working through an issue with an airline representative about missing mileage credit on one of my international flights. The person was polite, efficient and did an excellent job handling everything.

Since she was so nice, I stayed on the line: “Thank you for helping us be better. The only survey question is ‘Would you hire this person to work in your company?’ Press 1 for Yes. Press 2 for No.” So, of course, I pressed 1.

What a unique approach… and mutually beneficial. The company quickly received feedback on its employee and I disconnected knowing the extra 10 seconds of my time might help that representative get a gold star for performance.

Posted on

Mine Games

This month I traveled to Louisiana to work for a day with the U.S. Director of five salt mines. This person grew up in France, lives in Montreal, and spends 48 weeks a year on the road.

These are three lessons learned during my visit:

1) This leader stepped in a while ago on an interim basis as GM of the plant. Twice he brought in someone… and it didn’t work out, yet he avoided the temptation to rush. Sixteen months and a lot of 18-hour days later, the right person appeared. The day after I departed, the leader went back to his ‘regular’ job.

2) I’ve worked for several years with leaders in the Canadian oil sands. That’s heavy-duty stuff. This was my first journey to a salt mine. I interviewed my client’s direct reports for feedback on his leadership style. After three of those I realized ‘mining is mining.’ Safety is placed above all else – including profit. As one person told me: “I’ve worked in 24 mines the past 30 years. This is my first salt mine. The only difference is the product leaves on a conveyor belt instead of a pipeline.” He was a fourth-generation miner and his two boys are now in the industry.

3) King Cakes purchased in Lafayette just before Mardi Gras taste a lot different than the ones we usually get at Kroger.

Posted on

Change Magic

Some folks say the biggest fear people have is giving a speech. Others claim it’s being buried alive. A few believe it’s being buried alive while giving a speech. Of course, the most likely biggest fear is… change.

Think about some of the big changes in your life. Going to a new school in junior high? Unsettling. Starting your first full-time job? Scary. Watching your 16-year-old drive away in the car alone? Frightening.

Change just doesn’t feel as comfortable as that old pair of shoes, as familiar as that drive you take to work every day, as tasty as that dessert at your favorite restaurant. Yet shoes wear out, roads get rerouted and restaurants revise their menus.

Rather than fear change, perhaps the magic comes when you approach it as an opportunity to experience something for the first time. To lean in and anticipate the possibilities. After all, what’s the fun in going through life without ever standing in front of an audience and giving it your best shot?