May 14th, 2010 4
Trust Your Gut - An Important Lesson
One lesson I didn’t understand growing up was the concept of trusting your gut. It wasn’t until my senior year in high school while playing baseball did I get the ultimate lesson. Towards the end of the season, I was in a terrible slump and was benched as the designated hitter.
It was the final game of the regular season and we were playing for the district championship and of course it was the final inning, bases loaded, two outs and a home game so was packed with friends and family. Kenny Black (head coach’s son) was next up to bat and I was on my feet ready to watch. Coach Bobby Black yelled “UMP! Batter Change!” and then Coach Black looked at me and said “Win the game Chris.” Before I knew it I had my helmet on, bat in hand and took two strikes swinging in two pitches. If you know anything about baseball, that’s not a good start.
I called timeout and jogged over to Coach Black. I really didn’t have anything to say to him to be honest – I just wanted to get as far from the batter’s box as possible. When I got to Coach Black, he looked at me dead in the eyes and said “Chris – just go up there and hit the ball.” You have to know Coach Black to appreciate that simple statement but the impact was in his delivery. There was not a doubt in his mind that I could do it. There wasn’t a spec of nervousness in his eyes. He had 100% trust in me even when I did not.
It would be fun to write that on the next pitch I ripped a 375 yard home run and have my own The Natural moment but I didn’t. Not that it matters but after a long at bat comprised of nine pitches of fouling and taking balls, I walked in the winning run on an inside curve ball that missed the plate by an inch.
A week later I asked Coach Black, “Why did you take Kenny (his son) out of the game and put me in?” His response, “I trusted my gut.” Another classic simple Coach Black response.
Would you have the conviction to “trust your gut” to pull your own son out of the game to put someone else (especially in a slump) in?
How many times have you said “&$!@ I should have listened to myself” after you were wrong?
Thank you Coach Black for trusting your gut and trusting me. This experience changed my life.
In Personal PERMALINK Comments [4]
I love the final thought on this one. Formulas and guidelines can get you there, but the true differentiators happen at a human level. Trusting a feeling is a daunting proposition, especially when it goes against the guidelines. But the results can far outweigh the risks. On that note, how many times have you trusted your gut right into a steaming pile of failure?
Only when I was overly emotional about the situation where it blinded me.
Well said Chris. I just meet the father of friend who said: I wasted a lot of tution money to realize that my instincts were better.
Ouch. Even if it’s family – have to trust the gut. Thanks for your feedback Will.