The long days of summer inspire me this week. I love being able to come home after work during the leisurely enjoy a drink, relax, and think. Sometimes I read a book, sometimes I sit in the sun, sometimes I go to the park with my dog, sometimes I work on a home project. When the sun stays up until after 8:00 pm, you really can do a lot before dinner and bed. A long day gives you the opportunity to do a lot of short progress towards a happy life.
Hemingway knew the power of a short story and how lots of little wins can add up to mean a lot. He knew only a few words can convey meaning. Here are a few inspirational thoughts for the week, inspired by Hemingway.

  1. Hemingway six word story
    • Step forward. Try. Repeat until happy.
  2. Career advice in four words
    • Experience isn't gained silently.
  3. Favorite quote
    • "Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing left to add, but when there in nothing left to take away." -- Antoine de Saint Exupery
"Take. Me out to the baaaaaaall game. Take. Me out to the crowd." I visited Washington DC this past week and what was the most astonishing thing that I saw?

How many fun league baseball games were going on at the National Mall! There must have been over 50!! It was amazing to see all the matching t-shirts with the makeshift bases and fly balls. It was definitely cool to see all of the friendly competition. It made me think about what it takes to be a team, no matter how light hearted or serious it may be.
  1. Know your position
    • In baseball, you are either the pitcher, or the first baseman, or the outfielder. You don't overlap in your roles. On a business team, it is the same way; you provide the most value to the team by sticking to your strengths and being the person that matches the reason you asked to be a part of the team. Don't try to do it all and don't try to be something you're not. You'll be way off base (pun, I'm funny).
  2. The scoreboard is only for numbers
    • Sure, winning is important, in baseball and business. But you do get to decide what winning means to you. These home grown games in DC were obviously for fun and there wasn't a lighted scoreboard in sight. They were all achieving the goal of getting exercise outside and hanging with friends!
  3. Measure yourself, not just the team
    • Maybe you measure yourself against a league's wins-loses percentage, but the best players are not measured only on their batting statistics but rather what feels right. Are they a good leader and energize the team? You can still improve and catch more flyballs than the last game and it will add up. Don't forget to focus on yourself as a valuable team member.
And just for giggles, here are a couple fun facts:
Fun Fact #1: There are 8 MLB teams that have never won a world series; 2 of them have never been.
Fun Fact #2: The longest cold spell of winning a World Series is..... 107 seasons! By the Chicago Cubs. They last won in 1908.


About Me



So if you want to be happy at work like I am, then thanks for being a reader! I am a consultant that travels constantly and is always working with new people. I love what I do! I'm formally trained with an MBA and BS Engineering. At home and in my free time, I like to drink beer, travel, garden, read, hike with my dog, and play board games.

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