Leadership Advice From Yogi Berra

"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances; if there is any reaction, both are transformed."   - Carl Jung

LEADERSHIP ADVICE FROM YOGI BERRA

Stocky and only 5 feet 8 inches tall, Yogi Berra never looked like a superior athlete. Yet he was a star catcher for the New York Yankees for 17 years. In 1972, he was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame almost as soon as he was eligible.  Renowned for his slip-of-the-tongue Yogi-isms, Berra never sounded like a leader either. Yet he managed the Yankees and the New York Mets into the World Series. He has also enjoyed a successful business career.

Here are some classic yog-isms and their implications as presented in the November 1, 2001 issue of BottomLine Personal (www.BottomLineSecrets.com http://www.BottomLineSecrets.com):

"90% of the game is half mental."

What I meant is that baseball involves the mind as well as the body. . . . In the 1953 World Series, I threw two runners out at third base on back-to-back bunts. People thought I stole the Dodgers' signals. The truth is, I was watching how the batters' feet were pointed and how our pitcher was keeping the ball where I wanted it. I could just tell the bunts were going to the left of the plate -- and I was right. . . .To succeed in anything, you need good intuition and powers of observation. It helps to have a good memory. But, most important, keep thinking and you will solve most problems you face.

"You can observe a lot by watching."

Things happen . . . things change. It could be in a ball game or a classroom. It could be your boss's behavior or your spouse's mood. No matter what, it always pays to pay attention. I knew a year before it was announced that I would manage the Yankees in 1964. I spent the year watching everything that happened with the team -- how manager Ralph Houk handled players and situations, trying to notice little things about my teammates I hadn't noticed before. . . . If you pay attention, you learn a lot.

"If you can't imitate him, don't copy him."

Always be your own person. It's okay to idolize someone. As a kid, Joe Medwick of the Cardinals was my favorite player. But just because I idolized him didn't mean I tried to copy him. . . . Never try to copy someone else's style. Follow the lead of people you believe in, but do what instinctively feels right for you. Whatever you do in life, be yourself and do it in your own style.

"It ain't over 'til it's over."

I don't think there is a truer lesson in life. It can be a ball game or a closing on a new house. Never assume anything is finished until it is really finished. . . . Good things can happen if you persevere. Baseball lore is full of great comebacks. I think that's a great lesson in life. Be calm . . . be patient . . . don't worry. As a great sportswriter from my playing days used to say, When you think everything is hopeless, just remember Yogi Berra.

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