The Seed Sower Coach

Learning New Tricks

“We’re doing twice the work we used to do and getting paid the same.”

“This new machine’s not as good as what we had before.”

Are these common refrains from your work environment? Although we’re all no doubt busy, I tend to find that the underlying issues have more to do with technological frustration and change more than most other factors.

Consider the first statement, which essentially addresses the “do more with less” argument. It is entirely true that nearly all of us are and are required to be more productive than we were 20 or even 10 years ago. Yet, look at the tools that are now at our disposal. Computer speeds are faster than ever. A single cell phone has more capability than the early computers that helped us land on the moon. Groceries and other goods are delivered to our doorsteps often within a day or even hours of ordering. Scientists developed an immunization for a threatening and sometimes deadly virus in less than a year, far exceeding our expected standards.

So yes, most of us are doing more than we used to do, yet with the aid of technology. If we are still where we were in 2001, we have simply not kept up.

Still, learning how to Zoom, text, or even email can be uncomfortable propositions for many. The reward for first tackling the challenge and then succeeding at it can be immensely rewarding.

In my work in college football, basketball, baseball, and softball for ESPN I provide statistical data and observations to the “on air” broadcasters during the course of a telecast. Basically the job description summary is to share information during an event that will enrich the production and allow the announcers to come across as even more informed and up to date than they already are.

Although sports has slowly made a return during Covid, the broadcasts are different. For one, there may or may not be fans in attendance. Further, the on air talent may not even be present, announcing from a room or basement in their home or some other venue. The same goes for me: out of the events I have been assigned and worked thus far in 2021 all have been from my home office in Florida.

I recall my very first remote production a few months back. Admittedly not as technically proficient as I would like to be, I was overwhelmed at how I was going to adapt, produce quality information, and communicate it effectively. From that experience, I developed a step-by-step formula that not only worked for me, but that I believe can apply to many of the challenges any of us face to make them seem not so intimidating. If I may share:

1. First of all be grateful that the powers that be have demonstrated the confidence in your abilities to entrust you with the responsibility. They may very well see or know some things that are not so readily apparent to you.

2. The long-time question and adage of “how do you eat an elephant?, “one bite at a time,” is very helpful. Break the project down into smaller increments.

3. Seek advice next from those who may have some experience with the same or a similar challenge.

4. Begin tackling the undertaking from the perspective of what you do know. For me that translates to studying game notes and statistics from a variety of websites and transferring that information into the format and tools with which I have most familiarity.

5. Next, tackle the technology options that are most comfortable. For me that is Zoom. In my instance it also meant acquiring two laptops to begin with—one for the live game broadcast and another in which to communicate notes specifically to on air talent.

6. A third laptop was then to be added to the equation in order to receive “live” or current statistical information.

7. Assure that internet connectivity is strong and that there is reliable back up, such as a cell phone “hot spot” in order to remedy a communications void.

8. Speaking of the cell phone, it plays a role in continuing to serve as a communication device, however, through an app that allows the ability to talk to the announcers and production truck, much like a headset at an on site event.

9. Finally take a deep breath, say a prayer, have a good show, and feel gratified that you did it.

Resourcefulness feels good. These sophisticated times of ours also provide a reminder that none of us are ever too old to learn new things. It is good for me to get a taste of obstacles similar to those I task to my coaching clients.

What is the new challenge that you’re going to take on?

The Seed Sower

Searching for Answers: A Journey to the Center of the Mind

May 9, 2019

One of the best job description duties of a Professional Life and Career Coach is not having all the answers. That may seem an odd foundation for an occupation, however, for my clients it is a critical component for owning the development of their own goals and responses to challenges.

The search for answers spurs inquisitiveness for me at least, fostering an intrigue in why things are the way they are and how they came to be that way. Years ago The Amboy Dukes sang about a “Journey to the Center of the Mind.” Today we call that mindfulness or being in the present. Where’s the center of your mind. For me it often starts with a gentle prompt…such as when someone steps in front of you and excuses himself how and why you often respond with, “that’s ok.”

A friend asked me about “OK” the other day. How did the expression enter our lexicon? The bait was too intriguing not to bite.

The 1840 Presidential campaign pitted our incumbent 8th President, Martin Van Buren, Democrat, vs. Whig, William Henry Harrison. In those days, nearly 180 years ago, campaigning was primitive compared to current tactics. Pamphlets, brochures, and newspaper advertising were the norm, occasionally there was a “rally.” At one such gathering Van Buren gave a stump speech. Born in Kinderhook, NY, Van Buren carried the nickname, “Old Kinderhook.” Even then the masses sought efficiency of word. The cheering partisan crowd abbreviated Van Buren’s birthplace to “OK,” thus launching a colloquialism. What other American city of less than 10,000 residents is muttered and referred to daily by millions?

Other English speaking regions of the world have established their own expressions that have since been adopted. In earlier times a declaration of morbidity was made with less certainty than today. The story goes that at burial a lain body was placed in a coffin with bell attached, such that if by some chance there was arousal, they might ring it and hence be “saved by the bell.” Those who remained unresponsive were “dead ringers.”

In actuality a more accurate account dates back to the late 19th century emanating from the sport of boxing. A Massachusetts newspaper account of a fight in 1893 shared,

“Martin Flaherty defeated Bobby Burns in 32 rounds by a complete

knockout. Half a dozen times Flaherty was saved by the bell in the earlier rounds.”

Dead ringer also had a genesis in the late 1800’s in sports as well. In horse racing at that time it was not uncommon for substitute horses to participate in events in an effort to defraud bookies. Therefore a horse that was taken through the country and trotted under a false name and pedigree is called a ‘ringer.’” Ringer was a word meant to denote substitute or usually illegal replacement. Dead came to mean “exact” or “precise” as in “dead center” or “dead heat.”

Down pours of precipitation where an inch or more of rain occurs often causes flooding. It is not uncommon to opine it’s “raining cats and dogs.”

In medieval Europe, commoners dwelled in spartan accommodations, fortunate to have a roof overhead protected from intruders and wild animals. In a chilly climate domestic creatures and their owners sought relief in the upper berths of their habitats, knowing that the warmest air rose. Legend thus has it that when torrential storms occurred, water would seep through the porous thatched rafters and people, along with their “cats and dogs” would descend to lower levels thus “raining cats and dogs.”

The truth is, no one is quite sure of the feline/canine phrase’s origin. In 1653 Richard Brome’s comedy “The City Wit,” referred to stormy weather with the line, “It shall raine…Dogs and Polecats.” Eighty five years later Jonathan Swift presents a more modernized version in “A Complete Collection of Polite and Ingenious Conversation:” “I know Sir John will go, though he was sure it would rain cats and dogs.”

There’s your momentary glimpse into my mind. Random thoughts for sure, yet perhaps serving as a base for something more significant. At worst a response to a friend’s question. OK?

In coaching its a privilege to listen to others. Hearing their thoughts. Their dreams and visions. Ideas and goals. And deep within the recesses of their thoughts and Spiritual prompts they really do find answers. For them and for me those are breakthrough moments. The bonus is that along the way I learn some things too.

The more I think about it Yogi Berra really was right. “You can observe a lot by just watching.”

The Seed Sower

Kirk McCarley, The Seed Sower Coach

Planting seeds of confidence . . .

Searching for Answers: A Journey to the Center of the Mind

Kirk McCarley, The Seed Sower Coach

314-677-8779