As many of you know, I have two boys–ages 7 and 5. The older one, Kyle, plays Little League, Minor A division which is one step up from T-Ball. Kyle has a fantastic coach who is as supportive and encouraging to the worst player on the team as he is to the best.
Last night, our team played another and I noticed how the pitchers on the other team were not anywhere close in ability to the pitchers on the 10 or so other teams we’ve played. The kids often couldn’t get the ball to reach the plate, or they were way high or inside or outside. Since the kids had “tryouts” at the beginning of the season and were divided into teams of roughly equal ability, I found this quite puzzling.
After several innings, the coaches pitch to the kids on their team. So when the other team’s coach stepped up to the pitchers mound, he walked past it and about 6 feet closer to home plate. Then the coach’s pitches were as off-target as the kids’. The balls often bounced before they hit home plate or they were so low that the kids that could hit the ball looked like they were swinging a golf club instead of a baseball bat.
That’s when my bewilderment cleared. The kids on the other team were pitching exactly like their coach. Of course! Why wouldn’t they??
So what can we learn from a team of 7 and 8 year olds? If you’re trying to learn from someone who equals your ability in an area, you are wasting your time. To improve, you need to seek out those who have greater talent and success than you and learn from them.
Did you see the segment about virtual assistants on The Today Show yesterday? Corie Stewart and I tied it into a local-angle press release. Check it out!
And a hearty congrats to fellow IVAA member Karen Reddick for getting National press coverage!
When I was doing some research on blogging last year, one suggestion I found was to blog about things that scare you or your secret turmoils or fears…so here you go…
In the last few months, I’ve edited several memoirs. I enjoy reading them and editing them. But sometimes, the issues that they bring to light are painful and haunting, and I’m emotionally torn between my role as an editor and the fact that these are peoples’ lives I’m dealing with. When I am working on a content edit of a memoir, I often have to take a deep breath before I ask my clients the probing questions that will make their book even better. “Why did you stay with your abusive spouse?” or “Why does this part about the sexual molestation of your child not totally gel? What are you holding back?” I have to put aside the emotion, and be objective, remembering that I am the editor and my goal is to make sure their book is the best it can possibly be. I can only hope I am questioning with tact.
On a side note, in less than 3 weeks, I’m going on a one-week vacation and I’m going to try to do as little work as humanly possible to give myself a break. But I want to catch up on some reading for enjoyment and would like to read some memoirs. Any recommendations? If so, please post them here!
Lauren
Wow,
I’m happy to say I can now speak! While my voice still sounds, umm, husky, at least I’m no longer whispering and I feel 100% and back in the swing of things.
I received feedback on my presentation from the IVAA summit organizers and it was overwhelmingly positive that participants found my talk on continuing education useful and entertaining. They also liked that I gave away lots of prizes for participation.
So now it’s back to book editing, book writing coaching, and business writing. I have also just finished up the second issue since the re-launch of IVAACast, which will go out on May 15th.
On a personal note, my “Baby” turned 5 last Saturday. He is the family clown and prankster. He told me he was going to fill it and when he was done, I noticed the bubbles floating it. He had decided the birds should have a bubble bath so he dumped some of his magic bubbles in it. Fortunately I caught him before any birds liked his idea and jumped in.
Hope you’re enjoying Spring as much as we are in beautiful New Cumberland, PA!