How often can someone say that they had the chance to live out their childhood dream? Fortunately, I am one of the lucky ones who got to do just that.
My career started in Little League, progressed to the University of Miami, and culminated as a member of the 1998, 1999, and 2000, New York Yankees World Series Championship teams. What I didn’t know at the time was how professional baseball was also preparing me for life after baseball.
The following are a few of the lessons I learned that translated to a successful career in business:
Team Values and Culture
In sports, teamwork is essential for achieving a common goal, where everyone contributes their strengths for the benefit of the group.
Similarly, in business, mutual support and a strong culture will produce greater productivity. Trust, communication, resiliency, and persisting toward victory in sports, all mirror what is needed in business to sustain success. Adopting team core values in the workplace can create a positive, high performing environment that employees will thrive in.
Embracing the Challenge, Rather than Fearing Failure
The fear of failure in sports often drives athletes to push themselves to their limits in order to achieve improved performance. This same mindset translates to business, an arena where competition and the potential for failure are always present.
Just as athletes embrace setbacks as opportunities for growth, entrepreneurs can use their fear of failure as motivation to continually strive for success. Replace fear and doubt with a vision of success and embrace the challenges that must be overcome.
The Importance of Coaching and Leadership
Throughout my baseball career, I was fortunate to have been coached by some of the most experienced and well-respected managers in baseball. Just as a baseball manager pulls from previous experiences to develop strategy and make decisions, a business manager must do the same to promote growth.
Joe Taylor Restoration is a prime example of how important an experienced management team is. With 100 years of combined experienced, and the guidance of the founder, Joe Taylor, Joe Taylor Restoration has become very well-respected and an industry leader.
– Written By Jay Tessmer, Branch Manager, Central Florida and Jacksonville
