Jackie and Me - What Makes One a Competitor: The Questions that Need Answers

Jackie Robinson Day

This is worth mentioning on this day, and it gives me enormous bragging rights. As a further tease - only a handful of MLB players can say this?

I was one of the fortunate few who got to wear number “42” in the Show. Yes, I was given forty-two for my short stint with the Chicago White Sox. That memory is right up there with my few accomplishments on the big-league stage, and with each passing year, I consider it my proudest achievement.

Of course, I had little to do with being given the number, but it is remarkable, just the same. As most baseball people know, Jackie Robinson’s number 42 was retired for all major league teams years ago. I can’t wait to see every player wearing it today, knowing that was me many years ago. And a side note, another fact that few, if any, MLB players can say? For my first night with the White Sox, along with the number 42 on my jersey, was the name Preconte. I played with a misspelled last name for an entire game. That is how sports go; the low is never far behind every high. Ha.

Other personal connections to the great Jackie Robinson exist. As a kid and to many relatives to this day, I’m known as Jackie. And, I roamed 2nd base for a little while as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, as Robinson did. Today, Jackie Robinson Day, is a highlight day for me, indeed!

 What makes one a true competitor?

As a warning, there will be a lot of questions in today’s success-themed article.

How do you know if you have a competitor’s mindset? That’s easy in a sense. After having a fantastic day on or off the field is your first self query, “What could I have done better?”

For example, after a 162-game season or after running a Marathon, one would think I would want to get far away from thoughts about them. Yes, for sure, but is that possible? No way. Once again, the competitor is in a constant state of analysis and immediately wonders why. Why didn’t I do this or that? When something is in your heart and soul, you cannot just drop all thoughts of it. I call it the curse of the competitor - no matter how tired one is or how successful one has been, complete satisfaction never comes. Immediate analysis occurs whether one wants it or not, and an initial plan for the next attempt formulates right away. A quick breakdown is an unavoidable outcome for the true competitor.   

The good news is that one’s analysis of an experience determines the success factor and that evaluation is under one’s control. I feel like I won each time I finished a marathon, despite slow times in each of over four hours and thirty minutes. The marathon winners complete it in under half that time. Similarly, despite being a mediocre major league baseball player, with only about 20,000 players ever playing in the major leagues, I view that as a significant success. Most importantly, I know I have won by passing on my knowledge in books and articles, even though they are not best sellers.  I believe those outcomes give me some insight into what brings success. And as mentioned many times in this blog, winning often comes without being the best or having the highest score.

The competitor’s analysis comes in the form of questions. Following are the ones I ask myself, knowing that answering them will allow one to move on and free the mind to get the eye of the tiger back.  

 The Questions the Competitor Needs to Answer

1.     What takeaways can I feel good about? Hopefully, there are more positives than negatives, but that is not always the case.

2.     Did I give what I had each day? Never as easy as it sounds.

3.     What were the significant inhibitors to accomplishments? These will include the physical and mental aspects.

4.     Did I make those around me better? Like above, that’s a goal but never that easy.

5.     What did I learn? This answer should fill a book.

6.     What can I do to be better the next time? Like above, plenty to point to.

7.     Where do I find the knowledge to improve? One should never rely entirely on themselves.  

And the most important questions of all.

8.     Did I enjoy the process, at least most of the time? Hard times are hard to like, but the competitor knows they come with the territory.

9.     Do I still have the same love as I used to? Pray that this answer is “yes.”

As long as one can answer yes to these last two, it’s worth giving it another try knowing the will to prepare again will be there.

Finally, check an MLB game out today and remind the kids of its significance.

Happy Trails!