30 Apr Lesson Number Three: You Have to Swing to Get a Hit

It was little Joey's first season in Little League Majors. He was only 10, but he was facing pitchers two years older and 20 pounds heavier than he was, and it showed. Being a smart, if not big, kid, he figured he'd play it safe. He knew that even though they were much more experienced than he was, many of the pitchers couldn't throw consistent strikes. If he just stood there and didn't swing, maybe he'd get lucky and get walked.

His first time up to bat, it worked. After three balls and two strikes, the pitcher threw a fourth ball for a walk. He was on base, and he even managed to score a run when the kid behind him hit a home run.

His strategy worked so well, he decided to try it again the next time he was up. This time, he made it to a full count again, but the sixth pitch was a called strike, and he walked back to the dugout for an out. Still, he was one for two for getting on base.

The next inning was about the same -- he stood there as three straight strikes went right by him. He was out again. Still, scoring one run in his first Major League game wasn't too bad -- was it?

After the game, the coach went over everyone’s batting average. Joey was a little surprised when the coach read his name aloud and said, “Zero.” Zero? How could you have a “zero” batting average? Hadn’t he scored a run? His coach saw the confusion and hurt on his face, and after the treats had been handed out, he pulled the little boy aside. “Coach,” said Joey. “I don’t understand. How do I have zero?”

The coach put his arm around Joey’s small shoulders and leaned in close. “Son, you have to swing to get a hit.”

You have to swing to get a hit. Those words reverberated in Joey’s brain. Maybe it wasn’t enough to get on base just because the pitcher threw balls. Maybe he did have to take a risk to get in the game.

You know how the story ends – the next game, Joey went in there swinging. Over the course of the season, he hit some, he got out some, he missed some. But he never forgot his coach’s wise words: You’ve got to swing to get a hit.

The same is true in business. Sure, you can score every once in a while because your competition is so bad that customers will choose anything else. But to really be a superstar and make something happen, you’ve got to get a hit. And to get a hit, you have to swing. It’s as simple as that.