The Call Up...

There is not a day that goes by when I am reminded how much umpiring baseball taught me about life. When I umpired, I would train tirelessly to perfect my trade. As an example, umpiring season would start in the dead of winter in January, usually in a field house where I would call pitches thrown by a pitching machine. Over the course of the 6 week period right after the New Year, I'd continue to work on pitch tracking and timing of calls primarily at first base. All designed to simulate a real game so when I got on the field, it would feel natural.

Through the course of the season, I'd stand in front of a full length mirror in a hotel room and practice my strike and out calls. There was not a day that went by that someone in the parking lot would stare in to my hotel room window and wonder what on earth I was doing. There was a method to the madness. The goal was to look the part of a professional baseball umpire. I believed that if I put in the time and worked hard it would pay off. While I hoped I would get a call up one day or the other, it seemed daunting because mostly there were so many good umpires out there, and many better than me. That said, I knew I had to work harder than the others. In the unlikely event I were to find myself umpiring a professional baseball game one day, I would know exactly what to do.

This leads me to how my life in baseball parallels my professional life. For years now, I've worked hard to perfect my trade as a Technology Leader as I aspired to show I was worthy of an opportunity to be a leader of business. I have spent countless hours reading and researching various technologies and leadership principles to drive value for my company. I have also devoted much time in to learning about my company, our business, our challenges, and what differentiates us in the marketplace. All in an effort to perfect my trade and to prepare for the day when one day maybe I would get the call to move from Technology Leader to Line of Business Leader.

Like in baseball, it's hard to move up to be a leader of business in a company. Mainly because those who are in the big leagues so to speak, have earned that privilege. They too have spent years cultivating their skills, knowledge and trade. In many cases, they're as good or better than I am at the trade. They know as much or more about our company, business and customer than I do. All I can do is to keep working hard and wait for the call. In baseball it often means someone has to die or retire for that call to take place. As harsh as that sound, that is the reality as simply there are only so many spots.

The last few weeks have reminded me of this. Most recently, our EVP and CTO, my boss announced his retirement after an illustrious 31 year career with the company. Few people have symbolized the company like he has. I remember immediately thinking, oh my, those will be some big shoes to fill. Moments later, my phone rang. It was the call, the one I was working hard for. The call to ask me to lead a part of our business. I remember feeling the same way I did when I received my call up to work professional baseball. I was excited, nervous, a little fearful but mostly humble and grateful for the opportunity.

Shortly after, I reflected back to my very first game as a professional umpire. My long time mentor, the person who taught me to umpire from the time I was 13 on was there in the stands, unbeknownst to me. After my game was over, he sent me a text message to say he saw me work and wanted me to know, I missed the pitch in the 3rd inning. It was his way of saying he was proud of me. It meant the world to me to get his text. "Slick", I miss you and appreciate all you did for me.

In much the same way, I know @Mark will be there in the stands to watch me too. He's been a fantastic person to work for. He's been there to support me when I do good things, but more importantly when I screw things up. He's going to be missed for sure. I am going to continue to work hard to make him and the company proud. Back to the mirror in the hotel room again... As I sit here watching the World Series and working on business cases to support our strategy, I see that full length mirror again. For old times sake, I practiced my strike calls.

Last but certainly not least in yet another example of how baseball and life are intertwined for me. The world lost a great umpire this week. Eric Cooper worked the ALDS less than 2 weeks ago and he suddenly died this weekend at 52. Baseball lost a great friend, but the world lost a greater man. All this to say, there will be a new opening for a hungry and aspiring big league umpire next season.

RIP #56