Let’s Play Two in Business

LISTEN TO THIS BLOG POST:

BLOG POST AND PODCAST #200

Baseball card copyright © 1969 by Topps Corporation. All rights reserved. Educational Fair Use.

This blogpost and podcast, #200 was sponsored by Caliber Golf.

I grew up in southeast Wisconsin near the border with Illinois and about a mile from Lake Michigan and about 60 miles from Chicago, Illinois.

My grandparents lived in Gary, Indiana and my grandfather worked in the steel mills for United States Steel. My aunt and uncle lived in suburbs of Chicago, and my other relatives in the city of Chicago, so I spent a lot of my earlier years in Gary and in and around Chicago.

I have been a Chicago Cubs fan as long as I can remember.

For those of you who do not follow baseball, the Chicago Cubs are Major League Baseball Team that play in the National League in the city of Chicago.

When I was in grade school, in the days before cable television, the Chicago Cubs games were broadcast on WGN television in Chicago, which was Channel 9 on our TV set.

In the days of broadcast television, it was necessary to rotate your TV antenna in the direction of a television station to pick up the broadcast television signals.

Our TV antenna was always turned south to pick up TV programs broadcast from Chicago, which was south of where I grew up.

During baseball season, when I got home from school, my mom let me watch the Cubs games for a few minutes before I had to sit down and do my homework.

I have had the baseball card including Ernie Banks in the picture since I was in grade school. It is from the 1969 Topps baseball card series.

Ernie Banks was one of my favorite players even though he played first base.

When I played baseball I always played the position of catcher.

Ernie Banks was the first African American player to play for the Chicago Cubs.

Ernie played baseball for the Chicago Cubs his entire career from 1953 until 1971, hitting 512 home runs.

Ernie was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.

Ernie was always known a warm, positive, enthusiastic human being and his nickname was “Mr. Cub.”

One of Ernie’s most famous quotes was:

“There’s sunshine, fresh air, and the team’s behind us. Let’s play two.”

Ernie Banks – Chicago Cubs

Ernie Banks used the the phrase “Let’s play two” to remind himself and other players to appreciate the opportunity to play a game for a living and to cherish life.

Ernie also expressed his wish to play a baseball doubleheader every day, a game he loved.

Ernie Banks’ famous quote highlights the joy of participation, the value of eagerness, and the benefits of having a positive outlook, no matter the situation.

Can you apply the quote “Let’s play two” in your business?

Absolutely.

Here are some essential “Let’s play two” strategies to consider for your business and your business team.

1. Teamwork and Collaboration: In a business setting, the “Let’s play two” attitude can be a rallying cry for going the extra mile for a successful team in a business setting. It celebrates the idea of taking on challenges enthusiastically and collaboratively in the office, much like a player to play the second game of a doubleheader, even after a long day on the field.
2. Work Ethic and Perseverance: This quote is used to emphasize resilience and a robust work ethic. It inspires individuals to double their efforts and embrace hard work with a positive attitude, suggesting that a work team member should not only be ready to meet their daily work expectations but exceed them whenever possible on a short term basis.
3. Enjoyment and Passion: At its core, “Let’s play two” is about the joy of doing something you love as a profession. This quotes inspires positive attitudes that encourage people to find and engage deeply in their own professional endeavors.
4. Greater Engagement: This quotes inspires individuals to be more engaged with their work tasks and develop a high level of confidence in themselves. This higher level of engagement leads to better performance and more innovative solutions to problems in your business.
5. Optimism and Looking Forward: This quote also serves as a reminder to stay optimistic and maintain a forward-thinking point of view. It’s also about being optimistic about potential new opportunities and taking responsibilities for them, suggesting a proactive and positive outlook on future tasks at work.
6. Encourage Leadership and Motivation: “Let’s play two” can be used to encourage others to become leaders and embrace every opportunity to engage in activities that bring them joy, fulfillment and empowerment. This helps motivate a business team them to seize the day with zest and energy.
7. A Culture of Cooperation: The quote “Let’s play two” can be used to promote a culture of cooperation by encouraging team members to work together to solve problems and make decisions.

As I take my 7th inning stretch, let me say use of Ernie Banks’ iconic phrase, “Let’s play two,” encourages everyone to temporarily double their commitment to their daily endeavors to create a positive impact, at work.

I maintained my law office in downtown Chicago on LaSalle street for over a decade. I would always make it a point to catch a Cub’s game at Wrigley Field whenever I had a free afternoon.

This is blog post and podcast #200 for me. I so enjoy writing blog posts and doing podcasts with positive messages that create a positive impact globally,

I can easily say “let’s write and record two today…”

Out There on the Edge of Everything®…

Stephen Lesavich, PhD

Copyright © 2024, by Stephen Lesavich, PhD.  All rights reserved.

Certified solution-focused life coach and experienced business coach.

#letsplaytwo #teamwork #team #optimism #motivation #passion #business #businesscoach #lesavich #200 #two #erniebanks #chicagocubs #baseball