Be the Hammer, Not the Nail

Over the course of my 29-year coaching career, many of the baseball programs I took over had not experienced much success prior to my arrival. It was my task to build or rebuild the climate into a productive, winning atmosphere. The talking points in this program deal with setting a new standard, raising the bar of expectations, establishing a clearly defined, organized, disciplined and positive structure that encourages team members to buy into the organization's path. Sometimes this involves making tough personnel decisions and doing away with some practices and policies of the past that may have contributed to the downfall of the program, while also embracing policies of the past that may have once been successful. One example of this could be reconnecting with alumni who have fond memories of their time in the program and getting them involved in the resurgence process. As a child who was born handicapped, I was constantly teased and harassed because I was different. For a long time I was "the nail" who was constantly being "hammered". To get through this time, I established a mantra: "Vince's are Tough". I decided to become "the hammer" not "the nail" by becoming determined to prove every one else wrong and succeed despite all obstacles I would face. I would accomplish what others who were not familiar with my determination may deem impossible. Through these childhood experiences, I developed an approach that would serve me well throughout my coaching career and life. The message listeners take away from this program is that change can be a positive thing, and not to fear culture change if it is needed in order to move forward in a more positive way.