After a long, dreary winter, we wait patiently for the arrival of the sound of birds chirping, the feel of warm sunlight touching on our skin, the smell of freshly-mown grass filling the air, and the sight of nature leaping out all around us. We become filled with excitement as our spirit is renewed with the expectations of what each day will bring. And for many, that excitement begins with the crack of baseball bats allowing us to believe that, like baseball, we can be renewed, we can find hope, and, through memories of season’s past, we can be young again.
As part of our #BetterCommunities Initiative for May we gave in to the fantasy of returning to our youth by becoming a sponsor of the Warwick Little League to help celebrate their 20th Charter year with Little League International. In addition to indulging in a trip back in time, we chose the Warwick Little League because it provides children with the opportunity to be part of their community while teaching them firsthand the most important lessons in life that will help them become a future generation of leaders.
Little League teams across the nation depend on local businesses within the community to help ensure that leagues offer the best programs possible. Such programs allow players and volunteers to have a fun and rewarding experience. In addition to choosing to sponsor the Warwick Little League because of our sense of duty to our community and future generations, we also believe Little League baseball imparts many important values that will carry over to the workplace, such as: teamwork, dedication, making solid decisions, and the ability to deal with both success and failure.
Teamwork
Although this is the most obvious relationship between baseball and the workplace, it is also the most important. Baseball teaches individuals that the best way to find success is learning to combine your strengths with those of others. In business, the ability to manage and leverage individual strengths as a cohesive team allows all members to work together toward a unified goal.
Dedication
Baseball can be exhaustive and the game often lasts a lot longer than anticipated. Players develop the ability to push themselves even when they are tired and want to give up. Everyone has felt at one time or another that giving up would be easier; but baseball players keep their heads in the game. In business, pushing through and going the extra mile when you feel defeated defines dedication and commitment and is a characteristic that is admired and respected.
Additionally, through dedication, many baseball players develop a strong work ethic that drives them to continually improve their skill. This type of mindset is contagious and is recognized and appreciated by teammates, coaches, and future employers.
Solid Decisions
If you've seen the movie "A League of their Own,” you've heard heard Tom Hanks shout out, “THERE IS NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!” Baseball players learn early on to take their emotions out of the game, but not their heart. Emotions have a tendency to make someone act out of character and make mistakes that could have been avoided. In baseball and in business, the ability to cut through emotions can be challenging; however, having the ability to remove emotions from influencing your decisions allows individuals to make smart and solid decisions.
Dealing with Success and Failure
In both baseball and business, it is always important to strive for success and to be the best you can be. It is equally important to be courteous in our victories. Baseball teaches players that success has a very short life, especially if players let it go to their heads. Players are taught to thank the opposing team and congratulate their efforts. In business, it can be much the same. Of course you want to celebrate the big sale, but if you choose to berate your competitor, people will not see your success.
As for failure, if anything is certain in life, it is that failure is bound to occur at some point. In baseball, players are taught very early on to learn from mistakes and to never walk away with a bad attitude. In business, there are many times when coworkers come up a little short. Instead of pointing out the failure, help the coworker in a positive way and remind them that it was a learning opportunity that will just provide a foundation for future success.
ParadoxLabs is proud to be a sponsor of the Warwick Little League and is excited to be out at the ballpark watching these future leaders develop their skills, gain confidence, and learn important values and life lessons. These Little Leaguers come out every Saturday and show everyone that sweat, determination, and teamwork can lead to success.
We would like to thank all the players, coaches, volunteers, parents, sponsors and countless others who make Little League such a success. Your selfless dedication provides children with a solid foundation for future endeavors!