This is dedicated to my hero, Abraham Lincoln, who was born today, 210 years ago. He is my archetype of how I want to live my life, so shout-out to the most reliable person in my life that I never met. All quotes from today will be from the birthday boy.
“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have.”
– Abraham Lincoln
In honor of the #10 year challenge, I want to go back to the not-38-special me and be the 28-year old me, right quick A young lady I was dating at that time went ghost for 3 days, even though we already agreed we’d meet at her crib, at that moment in time.
“To ease another’s heartache is to forget one’s own.” – Abraham Lincoln
The year was 2009; the month was July. It was 9:37pm, and we agreed that I’d meet her at 10:00pm sharp. It was now 9:55pm:
Where are you, she texted.
I’m outside.
She should have known. She came in the car silently incensed.
I. Wonder. What’s. Wrong.
The argument du jour, among many previously, was this. She was mad, and I don’t know why. She tried to relay that sentiment with words. It didn’t go too far. “I hate that you don’t argue,” she said. My face grew plexed-per-second. “I hate that you’re always on time.”
The confusion on my face –
Let me get this straight. I’m not the man of your dreams, amongst other reasons, because I don’t argue? I don’t come late?
10 years later, well at any point in time really, it’s a benefit to be always on time. It’s called being reliable.
“You cannot help men permanently by doing for them, what
they could and should do for themselves.”
– Abraham Lincoln
Reliabilty may have been a curse for me personally ten years ago, but reliability, now, is the gift that keeps giving – a self-sustaining practice that puts discipline and trust in the forefront. It can come in many forms. It can be unspoken trust that an official’s wisdom and experience emanate without even blowing a whistle on the field or court. It can come from an official being able to cover for another ref when they are sick, or have an emergency, and the relief knowing that that official in need doesn’t have to nag the reliable to make sure that they will show up. They already know their track record. They’ll. Be. There. For they are not unreliable.
Reliability is an essential tool in a ref’s box. Here’s how we do:
OFF THE FIELD
NOTHING IN RETURN – Be helpful when you have no benefit of a transaction in sight. Do it from the goodness of your heart, to know that you helped someone in a jam. Dispense information and advice carefully. Don’t show your a know-it-all, but show all that you know, from the experiences that we consider the past. A success is speaking on your failures to not only to live to tell about it, but to laugh about it as well.
NO NEED TO CALL – If filling in for an official, or you are getting a new gig as a ref, let them know that you mean business by being at the field or court before the powers that be. You show that you’re not only reliable, but are ready to go any which way at any given time. Forget being reliable; they see you mean business. Your credibility will be that much higher in this business.
“Whatever you are, be a good one.” – Abraham Lincoln
ON THE CLOCK
DO YOUR BEST – This goes without saying, but your best is the name of this game. Personally as an official, I would love to hear silence from players, or that I did a good job. Naturally I feel equally satisfied when a player is arguing about a rule that is incorrect in their interpretation. That means I’m engaged in the game, and no one can mark me. Not only do I know what I’m doing, I know what I’m talking about. I’m the best at being the best at all times, for me.
“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to
succeed is any one thing.”
– Abraham Lincoln
LET THEM KNOW WHATS WHAT WHEN YOUR REFFING ?– A one-man game in softball tells you everything you need to know about an official. Officiating, with a partner is hard enough. Being alone shows that you are already self-reliant, for you have no other recourse. Also when you do have a partner or two, let them know you are proficient in what you do. Let them know that they don’t have to worry about that zone, because the 25% in which your responsible, you will be refereed 100% of the time. That inspires a crew, in turn making 100% of the area is covered by refs that’s going ?.
Another post that goes ?, tomorrow.
“I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down.”
– Abraham Lincoln
