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

The Treasure of Botched Opportunities

August 10, 2022

In a 1994 magazine interview, actor Kevin Bacon mentioned while discussing “The River Wild,” that “he had worked with everybody in Hollywood or someone who’s worked with them.” Following, a lengthy newsgroup thread ran titled “Kevin Bacon is the Center of the Universe.” That same year three Albright College students invented the game that became known as “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” after seeing two television movies featuring Bacon back-to-back, “Footloose” and “The Air Up There.” During the latter film the students speculated on how many movies Bacon had been in and the number of people with who he had worked.

The three proceeded to write a letter to talk show host Jon Stewart telling him that “Kevin Bacon was the center of the entertainment universe” and explaining the game. Fleeting fame followed with the inventors going on to not only release the board game, but a book about their discovery. Although Bacon initially disliked the concept because he thought it mocked him, he eventually came around to laugh along with the ribbing.

In fact he further embraced it by forming a charitable initiative, SixDegrees.org, a social networking service intended to link people and charities to each other.

I don’t know Kevin Bacon personally, but he seems like an alright guy. He’s been married to Kyra Sedgwick for 34 years, they have a couple of kids, and he fronts a rock, folk, and soul musical group with his brother. Someone who would be interesting to meet, I think.

Recently I was facilitating a corporate retreat. Following a break, I asked members of the group to identify the most famous person they had encountered. For some, it took a while. After a moment, a volunteer shared “Peyton Manning.” Another yelled out a racecar driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., I believe it was. “Garth Brooks,” voiced another.

What would be your response? What was the brush with fame like? Was your heart a flutter like a screaming, fawning teenage girl at a Beatles appearance in 1964 or were you agnostic to the notion of “celebrity?” What does our reaction say about us? And, if given the opportunity over again, what would you do differently?

These so called “famous” people we meet become a part of our story. Though we tend to want to put them on a pedestal, deep down there are elements of humanness and longing for connection.

My friend muffed one opportunity. Some years back, he had upgraded to first class, looked up and recognized immediately who was going to be sitting next to him for the duration of his flight. So starstruck was my usually affable comrade that for two hours he was unable to muster even a hello to fellow passenger, Hank Aaron.

That episode was later remedied while performing production work for ironically a baseball broadcast. For a half hour he was treated to a most intimate and collegial conversation with another legend of the game who regaled him with several stories as if he were an old friend. His new acquaintance, Vin Scully, who left this world a few days back.

During the late spring 60 years ago I was traveling by car with my parents along the vast, hot, and treeless plains of the Texas Panhandle. As a salesman my dad had a “territory” and he took the family along before I began school and later during the summer months. Most of what I recall about those car trips is tedium, boredom, and a lack of air conditioning.

My dad, being a curious mind, had learned that a movie was being filmed in the area and found out that one of the sets was en route to that night’s destination. The motor hotel up the road would have air conditioning and promises of a hot meal, and perhaps ice cream, but NO we were going to pull over to this stupid set.

Dad went to the trunk to fetch his favorite Kodak equipment meaning I was likely to be posed for a shot. Yuck! On top of that he had the audacity to approach one of the people on set and inquire as to if he might be available to “take a picture with my boy.” By then, hot, hungry, and on the verge of tears, I protested by throwing a tantrum during the shoot. The actor beside me, not to be denied the spontaneity of the opportunity, did likewise. The result was not only my brush with fame, but what many years later has become a treasured heirloom.

The moral is some of our best moments come unexpectedly. Treasure your botched opportunities, even your worst moments. You never know how the brushes with fame will become part of your story.

The Seed Sower

Years before salad dressing and race car driving Paul Newman demonstrates his humanness by mimicking the author’s monstrous fit during a break in filming “Hud,” June 1962.

Rewards of Curiosity

Kirk McCarley, The Seed Sower Coach

Planting seeds of confidence . . .

The Treasure of Botched Opportunities

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Rewards of Curiosity

Kirk McCarley, The Seed Sower Coach

314-677-8779