Always, Always Swing For the Fences

This week has been crazy at work with meetings, meetings, and meetings. But there was a big take away from it, which was surprising in the end. We spent about 3 hours learning about our different personality types. My first thought was, really? I know my personality and I'm happy with it. There is a science to your personality. How you communicate, how you need validation, and how to be receptive and understanding to others who aren't your personality type.

This test was called the Myers-Briggs test. Basically, two psychoanalysis's were like, "Hey, lets create this test about personalities for people to learn more about themselves.. blah blah blah." It was almost 100 questions, but it was all worth it in the end. There were 8 categories, basically opposites of each. (How we work together as a team. How we can communicate and grow together.)

After this week, I have learned a valuable lesson. You know when you have this brilliant idea, you feel the passion behind it, and when you execute it just they way you pictured, you get this high and addrenaline that you nailed it. I'm a creative type, so this is the feeling that I live for. I presented it to the big bosses of the department. At first, they loved it. We talked about how this will open doors to other channels, etc. Then that afternoon, my boss told me that the project was not really the representation that they had hoped.

A year ago if this happened, I would have stormed out of the office, going straight to the bathroom, and crying in the stall. I put my heart into this. I love my job and what I am able to do. But today was different, different for the better. I didn't leave the office crying. I wasn't upset or angry. I felt disheartened. I felt confused. BUT I didn't blame myself. I didn't question my worth. I didn't feel like I let my team down. I felt like this is not the end of my project.

I have been competitive all my life, and still am to this day. I want my ideas to be out of this world. I want to stand out and remembered as myself. I have played sports since I was 4yrs. old. I treat everything like a sports game. (Mostly baseball because it's my life, blood, and passion.) ANYWAYS. So in my terms, this is how today went.

It's the 6th or 7th inning of the game, the score is let's say, 5 to 3 my team in the lead. I'm up to bat. So far, I've had a few single hits, but nothing to gain a scoring run. But this time, I have 2 teammates on base. (Second base and Third base). Two outs and I step into the batter's box. First pitch, low inside. My presentation got some criticism, constructive I would say, but nothing bad. Second pitch, high outside. We collaborated a plan to how the project would play out through 2017. The third pitch. I have the feeling in my gut that I nailed it. My project was going to make a huge difference in my work, and set my team up for innovation over the next year. Here comes the fastball, right down the middle. I hit the ball and it's soaring through the outfield. The outfielder is running fast back too the wall. It's going to be out of the park. Then the player catches it over the wall. My project got declined, for whatever reasons. Some would probably say, well you left your teammates hanging, left on base. Yes, but. We're a team. We are still ahead in the score and the game isn't over. I gave that hit all my of swing and pushed out the power I have.

My team has my support. They encourage me to swing for the fences. If the opportunity arises for our team to "take the lead", then everyone comes together to go for the win. Is it a shutout everytime? No. Is it a complete beating? No. But it's a part of life. You will have different games everyday. You never know what the next pitch will be. The most important thing is you have the best team you can be with. Your team is your support. It's not an individual sport. You can be on a ton of teams. Family, friends, co-workers, groups, etc. My co-workers are family. We carry and push and encourage the best out of us. Together. Today didn't go as I had wanted to for something I worked hard on, but it's doesn't stop me. I want to get right back in the batter's box. It's true. If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. Next time you're around your team or teammate, tell them thank you. Tell them that you appreciate them. Tell them they are important on your team. Different personalities, different communication, and different signals are the not the same for everyone.

When they say swing for the fences, do it. Swing with everything you have. You deserve that chance to bat. You deserve to be apart of a team of support that wants that home-run as much as you do. And if you don't hit it, they are still there cheering for the next time.

Babe Ruth said it best, "Never let the fear of striking out, keep you from playing the game."

-DC