“In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.”~Yogi Berra
Play Ball!
I love baseball. Especially non-MLB. Little League. High School. Independent Minor League Baseball. Baseball at its best. Fewer steroids, fewer and less rowdy fans, but still that lovely green grass of a baseball field so lovingly called a diamond and the smell of hot dogs and beer. One local minor league team, The Orange County Flyers, has a great tag line: Orange County’s Greatest Show on Dirt. I just love the sport; watching a team get it together and make something magical happen, like a double play or a close call at home.
“All pitchers are liars or crybabies.” ~Yogi Berra funny
I also love networking. Several years ago, I received tickets to see the Flyers at a Chamber of Commerce networking luncheon. Ms. Marketing Manager for the Flyers stood at the front of a full room and said, “Anyone who who wants tickets, come see me after lunch. I want to pack the stadium, so I have as many tickets as you would like for free.” I found her afterward, made my request and she handed over seven general admission tickets and said, “Enjoy the game.” I smiled broadly…, did I mention I love baseball? So, I took my son and several of his friends to the game. We had a great time!
“I just want to thank everyone who made this day necessary.” ~Yogi Berra
The rewards of networking are not typically a baseball game. Sometimes, they are even richer. Sometimes, networking results in a new client or even a new job. Maybe, if you are lucky enough, a new friend. The rewards of teamwork are not typically another number in your win column or a call of “Safe!” at home plate. The real rewards go hand in hand with networking and socialization. So often we hear individuals say, “I’ll just do it myself.” or “I want it done right, so…” Well, you can’t really do this thing completely alone. You have to have clients, customers, colleagues, partners…, your network.
Legendary basketball player Michael Jordan made a poor attempt at professional baseball but, above all else, he understood teamwork. He said, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” Teamwork and intelligence. So, step lively at the plate, swing for the fences, make the saving catch, and slide when you need to. But know there’s a bench waiting to receive, tweet, update, blog, share, and forward whatever you toss their way.
Truly comprehend that your team’s a lot bigger than it used to be.
Rayanne Thorn, @ray_anne is the Marketing Director for the online recruiting software company, Broadbean Technology. She is also a proud mother of four residing in Laguna Beach, California, and a contributor for Blogging4Jobs. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Definitely, networking can bring so many benefits indirectly. It can land you a new job offer, better business opportunities, essential career information, life-long relationships etc.
Thanks for stressing the point.
James-
Thanks for the comment. Yes, networking (social or otherwise) has too many benefits to ignore and definitely part of what is changing in business communications today. How we behave – how we interact with colleagues, potential clients/customers – whether virtual or IRL (in real life) – is noted and remembered. Virtual interaction is digitally recalled, at any time – many forget this. Don’t. My best friend I met at a networking event and we connect almost daily online – though she lives 2000+ miles from me. Work is no longer confined to a corner cubicle or worse, a dark office. We work, we look for work, we communicate in ways no one would have believed twenty years ago. i don’t think there is a snowball’s chance it will ever go back to the way it was. We can either look at it as debilitating or inhibiting – or we can see the opportunity in it all.
I see the glowing light of the opp and embrace it.
-Rayanne