Lessons in Business & Life from the New York Yankees
Currently sitting in last place in the American League East, I wouldn't be too keen on suggesting you take any baseball lessons from the Yankees right now. The way they've played lately, you'd be better off straying away from emulating anything they're doing on the diamond.
However, away from the ballpark, the Yankees are worth examining on a broader scale. A team with such as vast history of winning (27 titles, to be exact) must be doing something correct, right?
1. Prioritize Professionalism
The players on the Yankees, all 25 of them--(or 40, if you're going by active 40 man roster) are, at the most basic level, professionals. They're professional baseball players both on and off the field--that's their job, after all, to play baseball. Thats why so many people disagree with the well-publicized "no beards and long hair" grooming rule for all Yankees.
While you may or may not agree with the rule, the fact remains that it is, at its core, about professionalism. The Yankees are a baseball team--yes--and its hard to think of a way in which a player's long hair or scruffy facial hair might impact their play. But the rule isn't about their play, it's about approaching the game--the game that is their career, their profession--as a professional.
This is easily applicable to everything in business. Once you've entered the real world of adults and business, acting the part of a professional is incredibly valuable. That's not to say you should never ask for help or seek assistance from a boss or coworker, but making the same amateur mistakes and violating the rules because you disagree with them is a hallmark of a rookie.
2. Don't Look at Yesterday's Accomplishments
It's often said that if you're still talking about what you did yesterday, you probably haven't done much today. This rings true both in the professional business world and in life. And the Yankees embody that as a team and a franchise.
While many Yankee fans (myself included) may enjoy clinging to the clubs all-time best 27 World Series championships, you'll be hard-pressed to find a player who echoes those sentiments. When the Bronx Bombers drop a game, they don't say "well hey, we won yesterday, right?" They put their head down and focus on creating new things to be proud of, reaching new goals and working towards tomorrow. You should be doing the same instead of patting yourself on the back for what you did last time around.
3. Act Like You've Been There
This is a piece of advise you'll hear tossed around a ton when a cocky rookie takes the mound, strikes a guy out and pumps his fist. "You've gotta act like you've been there before." This holds true in the real world as well. Celebrating your accomplishments is a very normal thing to do, but celebrating every accomplishment gives off an air of never having accomplished anything before.
However, away from the ballpark, the Yankees are worth examining on a broader scale. A team with such as vast history of winning (27 titles, to be exact) must be doing something correct, right?
1. Prioritize Professionalism
The players on the Yankees, all 25 of them--(or 40, if you're going by active 40 man roster) are, at the most basic level, professionals. They're professional baseball players both on and off the field--that's their job, after all, to play baseball. Thats why so many people disagree with the well-publicized "no beards and long hair" grooming rule for all Yankees.
While you may or may not agree with the rule, the fact remains that it is, at its core, about professionalism. The Yankees are a baseball team--yes--and its hard to think of a way in which a player's long hair or scruffy facial hair might impact their play. But the rule isn't about their play, it's about approaching the game--the game that is their career, their profession--as a professional.
This is easily applicable to everything in business. Once you've entered the real world of adults and business, acting the part of a professional is incredibly valuable. That's not to say you should never ask for help or seek assistance from a boss or coworker, but making the same amateur mistakes and violating the rules because you disagree with them is a hallmark of a rookie.
2. Don't Look at Yesterday's Accomplishments
It's often said that if you're still talking about what you did yesterday, you probably haven't done much today. This rings true both in the professional business world and in life. And the Yankees embody that as a team and a franchise.
While many Yankee fans (myself included) may enjoy clinging to the clubs all-time best 27 World Series championships, you'll be hard-pressed to find a player who echoes those sentiments. When the Bronx Bombers drop a game, they don't say "well hey, we won yesterday, right?" They put their head down and focus on creating new things to be proud of, reaching new goals and working towards tomorrow. You should be doing the same instead of patting yourself on the back for what you did last time around.
3. Act Like You've Been There
This is a piece of advise you'll hear tossed around a ton when a cocky rookie takes the mound, strikes a guy out and pumps his fist. "You've gotta act like you've been there before." This holds true in the real world as well. Celebrating your accomplishments is a very normal thing to do, but celebrating every accomplishment gives off an air of never having accomplished anything before.
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