How to win

It’s world series time.  The Giants and the Royals are going to game 7 tonight.   I am not a huge baseball fan.  I know, it’s “un-american”.  I chalk it up to a childhood injury on the ball field. I caught a ball with my face instead of a glove while playing first base.  Ouch!  I am, however, interested in and curious about game strategy.  I am pretty sure the players and coaches set their lineups early in anticipation of going to a game 7, so that they had their strongest hitters, pitchers and fielders ready and fresh.  Earl Weaver, hall of fame major league’r, has a great quote, “Nobody likes to hear it, because it’s dull, but the reason you win or lose is darn near always the same..pitching”.  I think the same is true personally and for businesses.  The pitch is your key to winning customers, friends and differentiation in the market place.

Personally, I struggle with my own pitch, “personal brand” and general value that I offer to the world.  It’s a nebulous squishy thing.  I know it needs firming up.  The best most successful companies have this nailed.  Just do it, 1,000 songs in your pocket, Refresh the World, I’m sure these all flash images in your mind.  Which is good.  The pitch is strong.

So me, what am I excited about and why?  Who do I help and how does that tie to who I am as a person in talents, passions and experience?  and Why should the world care?

I love start-ups, product management and the process of creating new things.  I want to make the world around me work better so that others can be more productive, creative and free to accomplish their goals.  I envision a world simplified.  I deal well with chaos.  I can adapt, adjust and blend in.  I can help disorganized teams focus.  I can bring order, but in a pragmatic way.  It’s not a full pitch, but the seeds are there.  I can feel it, but it’s not strong yet.

I will be watching the game tonight to see how things play out.  You can bet I will be paying close attention to the pitching!  While I am it, I will be paying attention to my own pitch, perhaps there is a nice parallel in there somewhere.

How about you?  What’s your pitch?

*****Update****

Giants Win!  Check out this write up from CNN.com, Pitcher becomes a World Series Legend.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *