Embrace Your Passion

We take our sports seriously in Seattle. Seahawks (nod to the 12's), Sounders and yes even the Seattle Mariners (we should be mentioning the Sonics, but we won’t go there today…RIP). While we may not be having a ton of success on the diamond, there is one bright spot with the Seattle Mariners. Over the past 10 seasons, we’ve enjoyed watching one of the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball: King Felix Hernandez. When this guy pitches, fans watch in anticipation of something great. While his ability is unmatched, the reason people enjoy watching him is because of his passion for the game. He doesn’t just play for himself, he plays to give Seattle something to be excited about. On August 12, 2012, his passion was on full display when Felix threw the first perfect game in franchise history. It is a day we will never forget for its inspiration.

Felix has said that every time he takes the mound, he tries to throw a perfect game. To put into perspective the chances of that happening, there have only been 23 perfect games in MLB history. But, Felix plays with such passion, he believes he can throw another one every time he takes the mound, and he knows the fans believe he can, too.

You may be asking yourself, “Good for Felix, but what does this have to do with me?” Well for marketers, there is a great lesson to be learned from Felix and the Mariner faithful:

  1. Identify Your Passion
    • Find the industry you are passionate about, and pursue it. At Brandner, we feel very strongly about the building industry, and we dedicate ourselves every day to further our knowledge of the industry to best support our clients.
  2. Field a Strong Team
    • Marketing requires a team effort, just like baseball. When you are deciding who to include on your team, it is important to find team members who are equally as passionate about their work as you are.
  3. Believe The Perfect Game is Attainable
    • There may not technically be a “perfect game” in marketing, but you can have a campaign that performs above and beyond expectations. In throwing a perfect game, the pitcher may be the main focus and get the credit, but the defense behind the pitcher has to be at the top of their game to make victory possible, as well. In marketing, the brand will get the focus in a great campaign, but the marketing team behind it has to be at the top of their game to make it happen.
  4. Market in a Way to Change the Game
    • While there is a lot to be learned from past successes, sometimes it is important to look at changing the way you market. The reality is that the culture is shifting every day. What once was effective and successful, may not be that way anymore. What shifts are you seeing in your industry lately? Stay ahead of the curve and look for those ways to change how marketing is done. Surround yourself with people who dedicate themselves to doing this every day.

Ok, now it’s time for a little reflection. Think of a time where you achieved a “perfect game” in any aspect of your life. Think of how it made you feel, your steps to achieving it, etc. Got it? Now write it down and place it in a visible area at your workspace. Force yourself to see what you are capable of each day and strive for the “perfect game” again. People may even begin to watch you work with anticipation of something great, just like they watch Felix.