By Tyler Tompson-
During our Summer Program, we start off every day of training with a mindset presentation. Coach Wolforth is usually the one presenting, and the topic for the day can range in several different areas. Some of the past topics included lessons on leadership, failure, fear, teamwork, and your comfort zone. I have been at the Ranch over the span of 3 different Summer Programs — once for training, once as an intern, and once working here full-time, and I can honestly tell you I have taken something away from each and every mindset I have had the opportunity to listen to.
One of the presentations Coach Wolforth gives includes a video by Jocko Willink, retired United States Navy SEAL, who now has a podcast and has written several books on leadership and strategies he used during his time in the U.S. Navy. (He has been one of my favorites to listen to and read about!)
Recently on his Instagram (@jockowillink), he posted a video about some ideas he had on how to stay on task and get things done while being stuck at home during the COVID – 19 pandemic by implementing an “execution checklist”. I found this extremely insightful because this outbreak is affecting everyone in the world by forcing so many people to work from home and suspending high school/college student-athletes’ spring seasons. It can be difficult to stay on task and can be “boring” being stuck inside day after day. Much of the time you might feel like there is nothing to do!
The execution checklist is something Jocko used to ensure he and his team got the things done that they were supposed to get done that day. This can really be seen as a to-do list to most people, but the steps and amount of detail Jocko goes into really takes the traditional to-do list to the next level.
While the checklist was used during his time as a U.S. Navy SEAL, Jocko tells us that it can be used in all aspects of life and breaks it down into two different perspectives: Personal and Leadership. Personal includes your daily tasks and goals, while the other is you from a leadership point of view and involves the cooperation of others.
The checklists are as follows:
Personal:
- DO IT the Night BEFORE
- Start with Everything – As detailed as possible; hourly ex: Wake Up. Workout.
- Projects & Tasks
- Prioritize & Strategize
- Them. Done.
Leadership:
- Let the Team Create – Involve them in all steps
- Make Small Enough to Track – Make sure there is progress
- If They Fail to Reach the Goal/Reach the Deadline – How can you support them?
- Things that don’t get tracked, don’t get done
- Make Execution Checklist and EXECUTE
Even when this pandemic passes and we go back to how things were, I will still take what Jocko talks about above and apply it to my daily and weekly tasks. Having some sort of execution checklist will hold you accountable and have you really focused on getting done what you have to get done, no matter what is going on.
You can find the video here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-Iaqckj8gs/?igshid=5bfz91m0n39c
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Important TBR Updates
- The COVID-19 virus has impacted nearly every facet of our society. In short, the world is a very different place than it was on January 1st, 2020 and that includes the Texas Baseball Ranch®. In order to limit the number of parents and athletes attending our Elite Pitchers Boot Camps, we are currently reducing the camp enrollment from 50 athletes to 24 athletes. This change will stay in effect until the national requirements/guidelines have been updated. We are also loosening up our cancellation/change policy so that people can be comfortable in making plans now in the face of current & future uncertainty.
- Due to the cancellation of the college baseball season, we are adding a College Training Session April 17-19. The group will be limited to 32 athletes.
- In addition, we have added a “Ranch Remote” training option for people that would still like to get access to and instruction from the TBR staff but prefer to avoid travel due to the virus.
Please call (936)588-6762 or email us: info@texasbaseballranch.com
for more details or to sign up for any of these options.
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