The Little League Coach

Water Under the Bridge

Two weeks ago we had a major incident in a game that involved a team and a league with which I have very much respect. They are our closest friends, as far as competitive leagues go, and we often help each other out. It was an unfortunate and disturbing situation that could have festered and grown into a long-term feud.

Today we had to play the same team again. Our coaching staff and team made a conscious decision to “let bygones be bygones” and just show up, play our best, and allow the kids to have fun no matter what the circumstances. It seems their team did the same and, even though we lost the game, we had a fantastic time at their park.

Again Ms. Peevie, both teams truly had a choice. I will repeat again what one of my old girlfriends used to say quoting her mother, “If you are looking for trouble, you will find it.” This is so true. I would translate that to this situation as “If you are looking for a fight, you will find it.” Had either team shown up “looking for a fight” they probably would have found it somewhere.

But that’s not what happened. What happened is all the adults involved took the high road and taught the kids on both teams how to put our differences aside, focus on the objective at hand, and just go out there and play the game. This was obvious from the time warm ups started and I am proud to say that I was part of it.

How many times in your life have you had a dispute, argument, disagreement, or outright fight with another person, only to end up being best friends? Why is it that this happens? So often we look to that person next to us and say to ourselves, “How did I ever end up teaming up w/ this guy?” My assistant coach during the spring is a guy I have the utmost respect for, but when we were on different teams we were always at odds. Now together, we are very powerful.

Who was it that said, “keep your friends close, and your enemies closer?” So what happens when our enemies become our friends? What human dynamic causes this to occur so often? Passion is an emotion from which we derive so much pleasure, but it is also a major cause of dispute. This is prevalent throughout all societies.

My first Real Estate instructor was the most colorful instructor I ever studied under. He used to take the boring legal parts of the real estate game and paint them with passion so vivid that his students would get lost in the particular dispute he was discussing. He would always end every one with one or the other parties saying, “it’s the principal of the thing.” At this point he suggested we pack our stuff up, walk out of the room, and let the attorneys figure it out since they were the only ones who were going to get paid now anyway.

Coaches are passionate about their teams, parents are passionate about their kids, kids are passionate about the game, this is a recipe for conflict. If we recognize and understand this, we can overcome anything that occurs “on the field.”

I preach to my kids every game, “what is the most important pitch?”. The next one of course. We can’t change the one before it no matter what the outcome. Therefore, if we as the adults put prior “pitches” behind us and focus on “the next pitch”, we are certainly better off. If we hold on to hostilities, no matter how justified, we are simply “looking for trouble”. Do we really want trouble? Is this what we want to teach our kids? Do we tell our kids as they go off to school, “go get in trouble today honey.” Of course not, we say “have a nice day”, or some other semblance of good wishes.

So why do we so often show up at games “looking for trouble”? Don’t we know we are certain to find it? Today anyway, everyone involved decided to put our troubles behind us and let the kids enjoy the game. I am proud to say I was a small part of this situation and know in the future, our relationship with this particular league remains in tact, as it should.

Who is your best friend right now that you fought with initially? Please tell us the story, we would love to hear it!

General
coach, conflict, friendship, game, Kids and Teens, Personal Finance, Real estate, resolution, School Time, sportsmanship, United States
15 November 2008 comments [2] TrackBack-URI

ClickSmart Jacksonville Realtors Page

I was checking out new locations to market my Realtor skills when I came across a pretty cool site about Jacksonville Realtors. It lists five very qualified Realtors that can help you sell or buy property in the greater Jacksonville area.

The Realtors have to go through a screening process and meet minimum requirements to be included on the ClickSmart list. So rather than a long list of everyone, like we find everywhere on the internet, ClickSmart actually qualifies these Realtors so when you choose to use one, there is a good chance they are professionals.

Realtors in Jacksonville must have completed at least 10 transactions in the past year, be a member of the local board, be properly licensed by the state, and must never been disciplined by any state real estate commission or department. Fairly hefty requirements.

General
Business, Business and Economy, Home Sales, National Association of Realtors, Real estate, Real estate broker, Real estate pricing, United States
7 November 2008 comment TrackBack-URI

Back Into Real Estate

It seems that all paths lead me back to real estate. So I have decided to give in and just embrace it completely. I am at a point in my life that I can truly exploit this opportunity and I am actually excited about it.

I called one of my friends, a top producer at Prudential Real Estate, and within 4 hours had signed on to the firm! How about that for research? They are a great company, I have had my eye on them for a while now, and I believe them to offer me the best opportunity at this time.

The woman that referred me seems to be taking me under her wing as well. That’s good, because I need some help. I plan to dive in full force and help everyone in the office however I can. I have been practicing the real estate business for 18 years now, so this is something I know well, I believe I can be successful because I am committed to the hard work required to succeed in the business.

You have lost your mind!, you say, no, what better time to enter a market than when everyone else is leaving it? Kind of like a negative indicator for a stock. Everyone is talking about how bad the real estate business is in Florida, this reminds me of the shoe shine boy.

As the tale goes, a Wall Street investor stopped by the shoe shine both after he exited the subway on his way to work. The boy started discussing a great stock he had invested in and was making money on. The investor realized that if the shoe shine boy was buying and selling hot stocks, it was time for him to sell. This conversation is said to have taken place a few months before the great depression.

I don’t know if it is true or not, but the concept is good. When everyone was getting into real estate and it was officially a bubble, that was the time to get out, now, when everything is down, it is the time to get in. Make a few deals, save some money, and maybe make an investment or two. With some hard work and luck, I will be successful.

Oh, by the way, know anyone looking to buy or sell some real estate? I am happy to provide them superior service!

General
Business, Investment, Real estate, Stock, Stock market, Wall Street
9 September 2008 comment TrackBack-URI