It's the Follow Through that Counts
A few years back, I was fortunate enough to have coached T-Ball for about 5 years. I love the game and enjoy watching the kids grow and improve throughout the season. But if you've ever coached T-Ball you know both the joys and the trials that come with the job. The kids, the parents, the league, the weather, your time - there are a lot of things to juggle just to make it to the field and play ball.
Now, I always thought I had a pretty good team except for the first year I coached. Don't get me wrong - the kids and parents were great, we just didn't gel well on the field. That first year, I had 9 four-year olds and 3 five-year olds. If you know anything about T-Ball, that makes for a very rough year. We were the first team knocked out of the end of the year tournament. Score was kept back then and I can remember one game where we lost 31 to 7 (of course they turned the scoreboard off at a certain point, but you know those T-Ball parents, they always know the score, trust me). I tell you, we struggled that year. We had fun, but the scoreboard wasn't our friend.
As a coach, I had to learn to teach my players better in many different areas. One area - the major area - was hitting.
That first year, my players would get up to the plate, they would get their best game face on (and if you've seen a four year old's game face it would make you smile, believe me), I'd tell them how to stand and that they had to run as fast as they could to first base. So they would get in their best hitting stance and wait for the umpire to yell, "Play ball," and then they would measure up to the ball - not once, not twice but five and six times. Then they would rare back, making me think they were about to knock the cover off of the ball, and then they would swing, and all of a sudden stop in mid-swing with the ball just flopping in front of them, rolling in the dirt.
Any of you T-Ball coaches know my pain? I tried and tried to get them to swing right that first year, but to little or no avail. My second year, I knew what I had to do - I had to make sure that my hitters followed through. I had to get them to get in their best hitting stance, watch the ball, listen for the umpire to say "Play ball" and then commit to knocking the snot out of the ball. I had to teach them that committing to hitting the ball was the first step, but it was the follow through that counted.
By now a few of you may be thinking, "Why is Frank telling us about T-Ball?" I share this story to relay to you this concept of the follow through.
As a civic leader, we all should assess our commitment. Why people do what they do matters. The motivations for being a part of some activity or in a specific civic or social club or on a city committee or board will be revealed sooner or later. Our stick-to-itiveness to that activity or that club is determined by the real reason for getting involved at the outset. Joining a club in the community just to be able to hob-knob and be seen is a pitiful reason for becoming a member. Your attendance and/or interest will quickly diminish if that is the motivation, and believe me, people will take notice.
However, if your motivation is just you will persevere. If you pick up litter in an elderly neighbor's yard for the simple reason of caring for their wellbeing, the likelihood of you continuing to be of service to that neighbor is far greater. Such motivation is indeed an admirable character quality.
Community involvement is no different. You can spot the flash-in-the-pan people almost instantly; the people who are getting involved in the community with self-serving motivations. These people have no real commitment to what is best for their club or community. There is no true concern for where the club or community is headed. They don't take the time to understand the past and the present in the hopes of a better future; they simply jump on whatever bandwagon is rolling by that seems to serve their self-serving interest the most, while wanting the acclaim and name notoriety they think they deserve. Such people just don't get it; they haven't learned what it's all about.
What is it all about? What should be the motivation behind community involvement? What should drive us forward and keep us grounded? One word - People. It's as simple as that. We should all truly realize and put into practice that people matter. If we thought about people and making the most effective difference possible in the lives of those around us and those we lead or work along side, how much more of a lasting impact will be made in their lives. Forget the fame, the wealth, the things that come from the world around you - do what you do in the community solely for the people in the community and lives will be changed.
You see, we are more likely to follow through or stick with an activity if we've truly committed to it. Serving in the community is much more enjoyable if our focus is on the right things. We can have the greatest ideas and the best laid plans of mice and men, but if we don't actively and effectively follow through with them, what a waste of time on our parts. If we cannot step up to the plate and swing with our all, then perhaps it is time we just get benched.
I encourage you to assess your motives for whatever area of service you are involved in within the community. Are you doing it for the notoriety? Are you doing it out of "have to" or because it's "what's expected"? If you're not involved in those clubs or committees or organizations to affect the lives of people around you in a positive and lasting way, I encourage you find an avenue in the community to do just that - to make a difference.
As we enter this holiday season, I urge you to follow through in your life, whether it be in your family, your business, your community service, whatever and wherever that life pulls you. Strive to give your all for the people around you and do it freely, with no strings attached. You will be more satisfied in life and leave a legacy for others to follow.
Happy Holidays!
Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman - Ward 4
