In one week, the Major League Baseball All-Star break will be upon us. For some, it’s a fun reason to celebrate your favorite athletes at the mid-point to America’s pastime. For those with a significantly struggling team (I am a Milwaukee Brewers fan) it’s the silver lining of hope for the rest of the season. For non-fans, it’s an interruption to regularly-scheduled programming.
In Major League Baseball, it’s also used as a performance metric. You’ll hear coaches, players, announcers and analysts refer to it as “before” and “after” when looking at a team’s season. Major League Baseball’s website provides stats on teams and players before and after the break by year. Players injured in April might be able to play “after the All-Star break.” Besides the individual All-Stars chosen by fans to play in the July 16 game, everyone associated with the sport considers it a major milestone in the season.
What is your All-Star break?
Yes, you’re an All-Star. It’s just beyond the mid-point of 2013—a great time to assess what you’ve accomplished so far this year. Take a quick break—sit back and close your eyes.
- Look at your progress. What goals did you set for 2013? How far have you come against those goals, and what is left to accomplish? Were the goals realistic—or have you already blown them out of the water?
- Stay motivated. If you’re at less than .500 into the break—you can turn it around. There’s time if you get back into the game now. Dust off those marketing plans that you may or may not have implemented. Reach out to your suppliers—what promotions do they have that fit with your top clients’ objectives going into fall? Remember, your customers are evaluating their sales performance against their goals right now as well. By creating ways to help them achieve their 2013 goals, you’re helping to achieve yours, too.
- Having a great year? That’s wonderful, but don’t take it for granted. History has shown us that Major League Baseball teams with significant division leads going into the break will likely win their division. However, eight Wild Card teams in the past 10 years have beaten the odds (and frontrunners) and made it to the World Series, with four of those teams winning the World Series. What that means: the game is far from over. Staying focused and executing your plans helps you finish the season a winner.
- Take in a baseball or softball game. Seriously. If you play—or have children/friends/relatives who play—that’s a no-brainer. If you don’t, it’s easy to find a game in your area. While it’s fun to munch on popcorn and enjoy a beverage at the ballpark, you can also build your network or see a stadium ad from a new business (aka prospective client).
