A swing and a miss at Self Care

It was one of the hottest summer’s I remember to date. 

It was also one of the summers that I cherish to this day. I was still playing baseball in a summer league for college athletes who came back home to northeast Ohio. I however was not one of those College-aged guys. I was 29 and was nearing the end of my playing days.

On this Saturday in July, we had a doubleheader to play. Going into the day we carried two catchers, myself, and Brian. As we started to talk about the day and build the lineup, I was slotted in to play first base during the first game and catch the second. 

Then we received a call from Brian, he was sick, and could not make it to the games. 

The Manager TJ came over and interrupted my batting practice to ask if I would mind catching game one, and we would figure out game two. 

“Of course, whatever the team needs man”

TJ said, what the team really needs is me to catch both games, chuckling as he said it.

“Yeah man, let’s do it” I replied 

Those 5 words singled the start of an exceedingly long, drawn-out 4 weeks for me. 

It was also at this time I was the Store Manager of a grocery store that did about $9 million dollars annually. So, my day job needed me to be around, on a regular basis, or so I thought. 

The games went great, I mean we split the doubleheader, but lost the second game in a pitching duel. We had good pitchers, and of course one of the best signal-callers in the league, me!

I loved catching, I loved being a part of every pitch, calling the games, and understanding what the batters were doing in their swings that left holes for my pitchers and me to find.

As I packed up my gear for the day and wondered how I was going to pull off my sweat-soaked uniform, I started to not feel super well. 

I said to myself, well it was 97 degrees, I did just catch a doubleheader and maybe I need a shower and a nap. 

So, I headed home to handle the shower and the nap but woke up feeling worse. 

I still headed out to the party, I mean, I was only tired and would feel better tomorrow… isn’t that what we all say. 

Well on Monday, I called off, one of the 5 times I have called off in my life, and headed to the Urgent care, still not feeling quite right. 

The store would be good, it would manage without me for one day. After all, I have trained my team leads to make it without me, just in case. 

The Doctor came in, asked some questions, and said we are going to run a strep test. 

“But Doc, I don’t have a sore throat, I am just exhausted” 

He ran the test and of course, it was positive. He said that I wore myself down so much on Saturday, that my body defenses were lowered and caught the bug. So, he gave me the Z pack for 10 days and said to take it all and I will be good. 

I started right away, and the next day, and three pills in, and more rest, I was feeling so much better! 

I headed into work, and talked with the team, the store looked amazing, what a great group of people. 

On day 7, a week later, I was feeling strong, back at practice for baseball, living life as I did a week ago. 

I stopped taking the pills and moved on. 

MISTAKE

Three days later, I called off again, sick….My team, bless their heart, wanted me to stay home and take care of myself. Not me.. Not John. I can not do that. 

Yet this is what I trained them to do, So I moved some things around, and took a few vacation days, and went back to the doctor.

“Did you finish all the pills?” 

Well Doc, here is the thing…….

“John, I am going to need you to finish what I gave you, and here is a triple dose to finish as well. You need to take them for the next 30 days…. Your Strep came back”

30 days!!! So really, 33 days, because I had to finish the others. Once I got into day 3, I was feeling better. But trust me, I finished the other 30 days, and have not had strep since. 

I headed back to work, and back behind the plate for another doubleheader but only catching one game this time. I learned my lesson there!

This was the day, that I realized that while I was training my staff to be there when I am not, and they were flourishing, my self-care was not a priority. 

Ever since I still head to work every day or work remotely (luckily) if I am not feeling well, but I am more in tune with my body, and what it can tell you. I also still train my team to handle things if I can not be there. I think this is so important.

I also still love baseball and really want to catch another game, but I know that if I did right now, I would not walk for a month, starting another long 30 days. 

A few takeaways from this post:

• Focus on you, and self-care, it only makes your team better.
• Train your team to succeed when you are not there, this a must for all businesses
• Take all of the pills the doctor gives you, Seriously!

About the Johnny Carp

I have been in the hospitality or service industry my whole life. I mean retail and hospitality do one thing, serve the customer or guest, and I excel at that

I started in retail at 19, and worked my way up to be a store manager for major Grocery Chains, teaching myself along the way and connecting with some awesome mentors.

When I came into recruiting, I felt like I was born into it.. Maybe it was because my mother was the best at what she did, recruiting. What better way to join what I was born to, and what I had always done, and become a great Hotel recruiter.. recruiting those that can help others.

Personally, I love connecting with people whom I feel I can make a difference in their lives, but they can do the same for me.

www.johnnycarp77.com

Contact me at [email protected] or 440-822-3783