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Lessons from Baseball
Four years of Pro Baseball taught me some unique lessons that have carried over to my new career in Silicon Valley
Four years of Pro Baseball taught me some unique lessons that have carried over to my new career in Silicon Valley
1. Randomness works in both directions, but the Law of Averages wins.
You’ll get lucky sometimes and unlucky other times, but over the long run the luck roughly will balance out.
The focused work you put in will pay off in the long run.
You’ll get lucky sometimes and unlucky other times, but over the long run the luck roughly will balance out.
The focused work you put in will pay off in the long run.
2. Consistent results come from focusing on a process.
I can’t directly control the results of the game, but I can control my pregame routine, my focus in practice, etc.
Results are the effect, your process is the cause.
I can’t directly control the results of the game, but I can control my pregame routine, my focus in practice, etc.
Results are the effect, your process is the cause.
3. Keep your head still.
Hitting a 93 mph sinker is hard enough. It’s impossible if your eyes are moving too.
Before you can solve all the problems at your company, make sure your own head is in a stable and calm place.
Hitting a 93 mph sinker is hard enough. It’s impossible if your eyes are moving too.
Before you can solve all the problems at your company, make sure your own head is in a stable and calm place.
4. There are winners and losers.
Some people are far better than others at the job. In baseball it’s very clear who is performing vs not (stats!)
At a company, performance is much harder to evaluate. But understand that some people are legendary and others suck at the job.
Some people are far better than others at the job. In baseball it’s very clear who is performing vs not (stats!)
At a company, performance is much harder to evaluate. But understand that some people are legendary and others suck at the job.
5. Championship teams have excellent players at every position.
Weak links get exploited, and everyone on your starting lineup needs to be exceptional if you want to win a championship.
Weak links get exploited, and everyone on your starting lineup needs to be exceptional if you want to win a championship.
6. Take care of your body and mind.
If you don’t, fatigue will slowly build up over time without you noticing, and your performance will quietly degrade to mediocrity.
If you don’t, fatigue will slowly build up over time without you noticing, and your performance will quietly degrade to mediocrity.
7. If the count is in your favor, swing for the fences.
When asymmetric risk / reward opportunities present themselves, take a big freakin swing. If you connect, it’s a homer. If you swing and miss, you’re still alive.
When asymmetric risk / reward opportunities present themselves, take a big freakin swing. If you connect, it’s a homer. If you swing and miss, you’re still alive.
8. Enjoy the journey.
Whether or not you ultimately achieve your goals will not change the fact that looking back, you’ll most fondly remember the fun times you had with those people.
Whether or not you ultimately achieve your goals will not change the fact that looking back, you’ll most fondly remember the fun times you had with those people.
