"I just kept telling myself to be a shark. Stay hungry and aggressive and my team mates will feed off of that." While that would make a good opening of a novel, that came out of the mouth of a softball pitcher. Here is how I happened to hear that powerful, mental metaphor that resided in the head of a true champion.
Nearly a week ago, I happened to be surfing the TV with my powerful remote control and trying to feed my voracious attention-deficit disorder by watching 8 channels simultaneously. I happened to flick on ESPN and saw the Women's Softball College World Series taking place in sunny Oklahoma City. I paused for a few minutes to watch an inning or so of the championship game that was nearly half over. But I could not pull away, though my finger was itching to press the remote control. I marveled at the pitching prowess and mental toughness of Katie Burkhart of the Arizona State Sun Devils.
I knew I was watching something special. I watched till the end of the game and the post-game celebration and interviews. Katie led the most decisive win in the history of the championship round with an 11-0 shutout of the Texas A&M Aggies (two-time Champions). Katie pitched the full game, had 13 strikeouts, and did not give up a single run and only 4 hits. She was unanimously voted the Most Outstanding Player of the World Series.
That was the first NCAA championship ever for Arizona State, though they did come up short the prior two years. And, Katie would admit that she was not as mentally strong as she needed to be those prior years as ASU's pitcher. What changed? Her mental focus changed. She changed her mindset. She became mentally tough and was intensely focused.
The post-game interview revealed much to me. I always love hearing the post-game interviews regardless of the sport so I can get a glimpse into the mindset of champions and even the non-champions. Over the years, I loved and learned a great deal hearing about the mindset of a Tiger Woods or Tom Brady or the many winning coaches I admire. Now add Katie Burkhart to that list. She gave the opening shark quote above to a post-game TV reporter. She talked about the need to be a shark in her head, staying aggressive and hungry. That gave her the right mindset to get different results this year, this time, this game. No smiles. No let downs. Just staying focused and continuing to pitch in an aggressive and attacking manner.
That got me to thinking. All the business coaches at The Growth Coach utilize a powerful coaching process to help our small business clients adopt more effective, empowering and strategic mindsets. To get them to elevate their minds, perspectives, options, and possibilities. Unfortunately, many owners sadly view themselves as glorified employees. Or they see themselves as technicians -- I am a plumber, contractor, consultant, retailer, etc. Just imagine the difference in revenue potential between a "caregiver" and someone who is the "CEO of a care-giving business." Those two very different mindsets would yield very different businesses and results -- one a small, limited practice and another one a thriving and growing enterprise. Consider the difference between a pitcher who thought of themselves as a "shark" and one that had no metaphor or a weak metaphor like "I am a good pitcher." The "shark" probably kills them every time.
Very few owners have a truly empowering metaphor. What metaphor do you have in your head as a business owner? Don't think too hard or too long -- be honest. What did you say? Your answer, or even a lack of an answer, could be very revealing. Does your metaphor help you to think and act like a leader? Like a strategic business owner? Does it help you see the big picture? Does it excite and inspire you or bore you?
If your metaphor was not empowering or you don't have one, here are some suggestions. As a metaphor, think of yourself as a: CEO, head coach, orchestra conductor, army general, business architect, or business builder.
You don't think metaphors matter much. Oh yeah, just talk to the "shark", Katie Burkhart, pitcher and 2008 NCAA World Series Softball Champion and Most Outstanding Player. Metaphors matter! Get one or get eaten alive!
Daniel Murphy
The Growth Coach
Business Coaching Franchise System