UNPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIORS

February 24, 2022

By Mark David

I recently went to my 9-year-old grandson, Jonathan’s, baseball tryout. The tryouts were for a competitive baseball team held indoors at a facility. As I waited with my son-n-law and the other parents I found the following on the bulletin board for all to read. It was titled “Unproductive Behaviors”. It describes how to play the game of baseball correctly. But as I read it, everything they referred to related to what we do as adults in our corporate life’s. Enjoy it, Learn from it, use its teaching to improve your daily success.

1. Catastrophizing

“The sky is failing; the sky is falling.” Magnifying small problems and turning them into complete disasters. An example would be the pitcher who walks one batter on 4 borderline calls and comes unraveled the rest of the inning or game.

2. Worth Depends Upon Achievement

I only have value as a person if I play well. My play on the field or at the plate determines my worth as a person. Realize you have intrinsic worth as a person, regardless of how well or poorly you perform. 

3. Blaming External Circumstances For Failure

Umpires bad call, or ball must have taken a bad hop. Avoid the habit of blaming outside factors when you make mistakes. Occasionally things outside your control can contribute to mistakes; but keep your focus on the internal things you can control.

4. One time Generalization

Because I played poorly early means the rest of the day will be bad. Some athletes let their first at bat control the rest of the game. Just because you may have struck out the first time does not mean you are doomed the rest of the game.

5. Mistakes Are Always Fatal

I can’t learn from any strikeout or error. Most player dwell on the mistakes they make and allow them to erode their confidence. There can be advantages to making mistakes if you are willing to look for them. Winners turn mistakes into success by learning from them and using them to their advantage. Thus, its not necessarily, the mistakes you make; but how you react to them.

6. Taking Personal Burden For Team Failure

“I cost the team the game.” One single play does not determine the outcome of the entire game. Some people blame themselves for team losses. Just as you don’t take all the credit for success wen you get the game winning RBI, you should not take all the blame for failure when you commit an error.

In conclusion these 6 behaviors all feed the reptilian brain view of the world. It loves fear, uncertainty, and doubt. I suggest living your life through your heart brain, the viewpoint of optimism, trust, belief, and gratitude. The bottom line for all success is to keep growing and developing ones behaviors, talents, skills, and capabilities. Let this message penetrate your sub-conscious.  

I will end with another educational message the coach had for the young ball players: Talent may get you on the field, but it’s the effort and attitude that will keep you there. 

Appreciate the Day,

Mark David

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