Five Life Lessons from the College World Series
I recently had the opportunity to spend seven days in Omaha, Nebraska to attend the Men’s College World Series. Each June, the best collegiate baseball programs from across the nation converge on Charles Schwab Field in the Gateway to the West.
For context, the regular collegiate baseball season begins the second weekend of February and runs right into the post-season, which begins just before Memorial Day Weekend and can continue through the end of June. Depending on the team’s spring performance, they can be selected to play in the NCAA Tournament. Two weeks later, 64 teams turn into the final eight in Omaha.
My husband, George, works very closely with the Auburn baseball team as their Sports Information Director (SID). Because of his connection with the team, I’ve been able to follow along on the Auburn baseball journey to include the trip to Omaha.
Omaha LIVES for the College World Series. The city spends months preparing for the influx of visitors from all corners of the USA. Restaurants, hotels and breweries hang the participating team’s flags from their awnings, they re-print menus to reflect a baseball theme and even create new cocktail menus branded for participating teams. The city typically expects to pull in $6.5 million in revenue from the event’s tourism.
Being able to participate in such a widely publicized and popular sporting event, I observed a few things. These are five life lessons I’ve learned from the college world series.
five life lessons
1. Good sportsmanship is the ship that will go the farthest. After watching baseball for the past 18(ish) weeks, I’ve witnessed a variety of team conduct. I can confidently say that each team participating in the CWS held themselves with integrity and respected the other participating teams. This was also reflected in the fan base. There was a sense of comradery between participating teams for making such an incredible athletic run along with a healthy sense of competitiveness. It made for a more enjoyable experience all-around. Respect the game. Respect the talent. “If you want to gather honey, don’t kick over the beehive.” (Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People).
2. A resilient mindset is VIP. Mental toughness is key. There are multiple outside factors that can contribute to a ball game (heat, sunsets, rogue beach balls, etc). You can’t get stuck in a negative mindset because the game goes on. Worry about what YOU can control and always do your best.
3. Grit. The baseball season is a grind. And the weeks leading up to the College World Series are a grind. Many teams traveled hundreds of miles, played three tough games and turned right back around to play again. Determination, work ethic and a good attitude are all factors that played into success. I’ve also seen this same quality stand out in my professional life as a recruiter. Leaders often look for this “secret sauce” when building teams.
4. Stay vigilant. You never know when a fly ball with come your way. Be ready to catch the opportunity that comes at you fast. I feel like life will often present unexpected opportunities, professionally and personally. When you keep an open mind (and have quick hands), you could find something great. “Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes furthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.” (Dale Carnegie).
5. Wear sunscreen and stay hydrated. AKA: Take care of yourself. Life comes at you fast, so making time to prioritize health and well-being is important. The rest of these life lessons are moot if you’re not healthy!
These five lessons from the College World Series could be applied to multiple areas of your life, either personally or professionally. One of my biggest takeaways was that the season (and life) is truly a journey and it’s important to let yourself enjoy the ride.
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