21

Apr 2017

Sometimes You Need a Short Memory


In the bottom of the fifth inning verse the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, committed a three run throwing error. The Texan’s took the lead and all the momentum.

But Lindor has a short memory. He stepped up to the plate in the sixth and hit his first homerun of the season. And when he was back up to bat in the ninth… he knocked it out of the park for a grand slam. The Indians won in a dramatic fashion that made Lindor the hero of the night.

But what would the outcome have been if Lindor let that error nag at him? What if he couldn’t shake the blow to his confidence? Say what you want about professional athletes, but the one thing that is undeniable about the “greats” is that they have a resiliency that is inspiring. They have the ability to quickly shake off their mistakes, forget the last bad play and almost instantly refocus on the task ahead.
Many times in life and business, it’s easy to get discouraged by a bad meeting, a rough day or a down quarter. I encourage you to have a short memory. Learn from your mistakes, remember the lessons you’ve learned and then move on as quickly as possible. Very little good can come from dwelling on the past. Instead, focus on the task at hand. If your last client meeting didn’t go well, make note of two or three specific things you want to do differently next time, and then put all your energy into making your next meeting incredible.

Remember, Lindor had a short memory when it came to his success as well. One homerun wasn’t enough. He didn’t rest on the laurels of one redeeming play. He stayed focused on being his best in the moment and it resulted in closing the deal on a win.

So, let’s take some tips from the pros. Focus on winning just the next possession. Keep shooting whether you’re on fire or not. Don’t stop swinging the bat. Have a short memory.