What Would Derek Jeter Do?
Normally I donât bring up that Iâm a Yankees fan. It doesnât go over well. But itâs that exciting time of year, when my team has won the division and is looking good heading into October.
It is the Yankeeâs competitiveness that makes them so fun to watch. And captain Derek Jeter is a great example. He does it all. He has won 5 Gold Gloves and five World Series, and he recently became a member of the 3,000 hits club. He takes winning (and the Yankees) to a new level.
You can see Derek Jeterâs competitiveness in many aspects of his game. For example, with each pitch where he doesnât swing, he exaggerates getting out of the way of the ball by throwing out his backside. It looks kinda funny, but he does this to influence the umpâs call and get more calls in his favor.
When he is next up to bat, he stands back against the wall, inching closer and closer behind the umpire and batter. Why? Heâs trying to get a sneak peak at the pitcherâs stuff to be better prepared when he gets up.
In an interview once, I heard former Yankee Aaron Boone talk about what it was like to play with Derek Jeter. He said every time Derek Jeter comes back to the dugout after being at bat â regardless of whether or not he hit the ball â he says the same thing when a teammate inquires about the pitcher. âHeâs got nuthinâ!â Every time. He wants to keep his teamâs confidence high.
In baseball, they play 162 games in the regular season. It is a marathon. Which team can consistently outperform the others day in and day out? Derek Jeter and the Yankees are a model of what it means to be competitive in an effort to reach the higher goal: OCTOBER.
As we compete day to day in an increasingly tough financial services industry, maybe we should ask ourselves âWhat Would Derek Jeter Do?â (WWDJD.)
Post written by Kelly Latham, Director of Marketing, NAFCU Services Corp.