Sparky Anderson was the first manager to lead a team to a World Series crown in both the National League and American League. “I got good players, stayed out of the way, let ‘em win a lot, and then hung around for 26 years,” he said. He managed Hall of Famers, All-Stars, phenoms and unknowns. He did it in his own distinct, one-of-a-kind style.
How to make the Hall of Fame, the Sparky Anderson way:
Do things your own way and not by convention. There is no guidebook; create your own. Imitate no one, and be unpredictable so no one can imitate you.
Do not treat everyone the same. Treat each person as an individual, worthy of personalized attention. Treat each individual in such a way that it elicits and draws forth his greatest performance.
Do not butter-up your opponent. Reinforce your own greatness, instead. “I wanted my players to know I believed in them,” Anderson said.
Do not present a false image of who you are. If you don’t know something, admit it and move on.
Talk about, and do, what you know and love. Ignore everything else.
Enjoy yourself. If you can’t derive satisfaction from a challenge and don’t have a great time when you compete, walk away. Find something else. Hall of Famer Johnny Bench said, “If you see him and there’s no smile on his face, he’s probably asleep.”
Be loyal to your family, and expand “family” to include “team.” Anderson managed just 9 years in Cincinnati and was unceremoniously let go when he refused to fire any of his coaches, per the advice of management. But Anderson was inducted into the Hall of Fame wearing a Reds hat, by his choice, and never bad-mouthed the team after his exit.
Hold yourself to the highest ideal possible. Until he was voted into the Hall of Fame, Anderson never visited it. “I didn’t ever want to go into the most precious place in the world until I belonged,” he said.
He belongs.
From October 2010, http://raising-a-man.tumblr.com
How to make the Hall of Fame, the Sparky Anderson way:
Do things your own way and not by convention. There is no guidebook; create your own. Imitate no one, and be unpredictable so no one can imitate you.
Do not treat everyone the same. Treat each person as an individual, worthy of personalized attention. Treat each individual in such a way that it elicits and draws forth his greatest performance.
Do not butter-up your opponent. Reinforce your own greatness, instead. “I wanted my players to know I believed in them,” Anderson said.
Do not present a false image of who you are. If you don’t know something, admit it and move on.
Talk about, and do, what you know and love. Ignore everything else.
Enjoy yourself. If you can’t derive satisfaction from a challenge and don’t have a great time when you compete, walk away. Find something else. Hall of Famer Johnny Bench said, “If you see him and there’s no smile on his face, he’s probably asleep.”
Be loyal to your family, and expand “family” to include “team.” Anderson managed just 9 years in Cincinnati and was unceremoniously let go when he refused to fire any of his coaches, per the advice of management. But Anderson was inducted into the Hall of Fame wearing a Reds hat, by his choice, and never bad-mouthed the team after his exit.
Hold yourself to the highest ideal possible. Until he was voted into the Hall of Fame, Anderson never visited it. “I didn’t ever want to go into the most precious place in the world until I belonged,” he said.
He belongs.
From October 2010, http://raising-a-man.tumblr.com