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It’s been a little over three weeks since the Jays’ heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Royals saw their dreams of winning another World Series dashed. And while Kansas has gone on to defeat the New York Mets, and claim the 2015 MLB championship title, some Jays fans are still in post-season mourning. “When you lose, don’t lose the lesson,” they say; there’s a valuable takeaway that can be applied to our professional lives. Author Lori Franze explains.
Like so many across the country I found myself heartbroken late in to the night of October 23rd when the Blue Jay’s run for a spot in the World Series came to an end but the heartbreak must be short lived when you think about what this team accomplished in a few short months and what they gave us.
Beyond the memories and highlight reels and of course the sublime Bautista bat flip, this team has reminded me of some important life lessons that I believe everyone should keep top of mind.
Teamwork
“It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you don’t care who gets the credit.” – R.A. Dickey
It goes without saying that a team cannot be successful if they are not working as a cohesive team and the quote from R.A sums it up perfectly. Being a team player in the workplace, at times, can be easier said than done but it is an attribute that will keep you in demand and respected whether you are a freelancer or a full-time employee. It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go above and beyond in your role but also remember to be supportive of others, be positive through the process and celebrate the win even if someone else outshines you in the process.
Have Perspective, be supportive
Having perspective is important whether it relates to yourself or a team you manage. Aaron Loup, a left handed pitcher, was definitely needed in the bullpen, especially after Brett Cecil’s calf injury but for several games he was not available to pitch due to a family emergency. The specifics of the situation were only disclosed to the public towards the end of the Kansas City series. Loup’s wife had gone in to labour only 26 weeks in to her term. The team and their families were on their way to Texas when her water broke and she was rushed to the hospital in Arlington.
“There’s no quitting in that locker room; I’ll tell you that. No matter if our backs are against the wall, we’re faced with elimination, we still believe.” – Troy Tulowitzki
While Loup’s southpaw was very much in need, Gibbons and Anthopoulos told Loup to take care of his family, that they come first and baseball is second. While this may seem obvious, of course family is first, remember this the next time you have to work late and miss a birthday dinner of someone you love. And if you are leading a team, remember what Gibby and Alex said to Loup when you have a deadline and someone working for you has an emergency come up that may jeopardize a deliverable.
Fit is critical
Have you ever had that team at work that made anything seem possible? Where everyone had each other’s backs and even 12-hour days barely seemed like work? It was very obvious that there was something very special about this team and Anthopoulos has been quoted that he is not just looking for talent but fit and fit is something that you should always consider whether you are looking for a new role or a new member of your team. Don’t get me wrong; there are plenty of other factors that come in to play but fit can be the deciding factor on an opportunity or a new team member being perfection or a disaster.
Follow your dreams, never surrender
This lesson can’t be attribute to just one Blue Jay but the entire team for their grit and determination, however there are some players and moments to highlight:
- Roberto Osuna told his mother at the age of four that he was going to be a major league baseball pitcher and he has not achieved that but at the age of 20 is one of the youngest closers to pitch in the post season.
- Marcus Stroman did what seemed to be the impossible coming back after an ACL injury in spring training. He said he would be back in September to play some “meaningful” baseball and he was back and he sure did play some meaningful ball.
- Kevin Pillar was drafted in the 32nd round, 979th overall but you’d never know that by watching him chase down a fly ball or steal second. He didn’t let where he was in the draft pick define who he was or how he plays.
- Game 5 ALDS against Texas. Unless you were deep in the Congo without a Wi-Fi signal you know what happened in this game’s epic 7th inning. This team never gives up and to quote Troy Tulowitzki: “There’s no quitting in that locker room; I’ll tell you that. No matter if our backs are against the wall, we’re faced with elimination, we still believe.”
So if there is something you want in your career, go after it with everything you’ve got and don’t stop until you’ve achieved it. While the journey may be rough, the end goal will certainly be worth it. Hopefully, we’ll have this same opportunity next year to come together behind our country’s team in their quest for the top spot in the MLB…only four months ’til spring training!
Lori would love to hear from you! What did you learn from this 2015 Blue Jays season? What was your favourite moment? Sound off in the comments section below.