Last week, one of my boys started private lessons with a new hitting coach.
Previous to that, we hadn’t done any private coaching this season. To be fair, he’s a solid hitter. But he wasn’t performing up to his potential or the high goals he set for himself.
I’ve worked with him on his hitting. I know a thing or two about baseball, after all. But even I found myself getting frustrated (he was too) as I was unable to convey the right movements and processes to help him get the improvements he was after.
So after a frustrating game a couple weeks ago, I went online and booked a lesson with a hitting coach I knew through a friend. I didn’t wanna waste any more at-bats due to challenges that could be solved.
And wouldn’t you know it, in just his first 60-minute lesson, he made more progress than he had with me in the previous 2 months.
He’s doing noticeably better, he’s happier, I’m feeling good about it, the team is benefitting from his improved performance. Wins all around right?
The question is – how did I come to the decision to finally hire him a coach?
Best I can figure, it’s a mix of these:
1. Calm my Ego. There’s part of me that wants to be the one to help my sons get better. Which is understandable, right? But it’s also selfish. I should focus on them, and their results versus selfishly look at myself, and how I can participate in it. Once I was able to dial down my ego, it became a much easier decision.
2. Make the Time. We have a ton going on right now at LogiCole HQ – launching updates to our coaching programs, onboarding clients, traveling and speaking at conferences and masterminds. We’re firing on all cylinders.
And on the personal side, spring is always insanely busy for our family with all the sports and adventures we do. Is it the “perfect time” to add in yet another thing to fit in the schedule and drive to? No. But there is no perfect time, just like a lot of things in life.
It’s as simple as deciding to do it, book it, pay for it and then put it on the calendar. Once it’s there, it’s happening.
3. Consider the ROI – On average, I invest well over 5-figures a year on coaching for me, Susan and my team in our business, as well as coaching for my kids in other sports. I have no issue spending money on private coaching, as long as there is a clear plan for ROI.
In this case, like many, the consideration isn’t a return on monetary investment as much as a return on time investment. We were wasting time, wasting games, wasting opportunities, wasting at-bats, by not addressing this hitting problem.
So you’re telling me I could invest a few bucks to accelerate his learning, avoid frustrations, and create a better experience for everyone involved? It was certainly worth a try.
These are some of the big reasons I’m such a proponent of coaching across the board. Esp #3. You can always make more money, but you cannot create more time.
But you can buy time in a way (and see an ROI much faster), in the form of accelerated learning and being coached in the right way to do things. Whether you’re trying to hit a baseball, get in shape, or book high-ticket cash-pay surgeries (which has money and time ROI attached to it).
In hindsight, I shouldn’t have even waited two weeks, much less two months. I should have gotten the coaching right at the beginning of the season, which would have more quickly improved his performance, his attitude, his confidence, our relationship on the field, and his team. You get the point. Better late than never though.
So when you think about coaching for your sales team, consider the different factors that may lead you to delay getting them coached up. And also the reasons why it makes sense to go ahead and do it now.
You know the most common piece of feedback you get from patients after treatment – “Man, why didn’t I do this sooner?!” It’s the same feeling I had watching my son rip baseballs during his lesson. Don’t make the same mistake I did by delaying the development your team needs.
Every lead, every consult – think of them as at-bats. Your team has dozens of at-bats TODAY, right as you’re reading this. Don’t waste anymore at-bats. Let’s hit some home runs.
– Coach Troy