Subscribe
Follow Us
Pick Me Out a Winner, Bobby
Oct 14One of my favorite films is “The Natural.” And as I get older, it becomes even more poignant. It’s the story of an aging baseball player who has one final and glorious season. More than that, though, it’s about being uplifted.
One of my favorite lines in the movie is when Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) breaks his homemade bat in the bottom of the 9th inning. “Pick me out a winner, Bobby,” he says to the batboy. And the batboy fetches Hobbs the “Savoy Special,” a bat that he and Hobbs made together. It’s a link of old and new, glory and future glory.
Know why I’m thinking about “The Natural” right now? It’s because the Philadelphia Phillies, my home team, are one win away from going to the World Series. I watched too many baseball games this year, and I’ll happily watch a few more. The feeling in this city is fantastic.
We went to Fado, an Irish bar on 15th Street, last week to watch the Friday game. The place was packed at 4PM and everyone was there to root on the Phils. It was great. There’s something sublime about having a common purpose and something to cheer.
Which leads me to an HR pondering: What do we do to make our employees — all of them, not just the high potentials or favorites — get a feeling that they’re part of something great? I know that’s touchy-feely stuff, but it’s real. It’s visceral. It rallies people.
I know you can’t all have a chance to go to the World Series for the first time in 15 years. I’m just thinking it would be really great to go for a big win of some kind and have your people be proud of what you’re doing and who you are. There has to be something. I know there is. Meanwhile, I say, “Go Phils!”
About the Author
Frank Roche
Frank started IFRACTAL over 7 years ago with Sarah Chambers. Together, they've created HR communications and HR software for some of the world's leading companies. Frank is also studying Flamenco guitar and origami.
Comments
Leave a Reply
Featured Product
Social Media
Flickr
Frank, that's what it is all about – people need a sense of purpose at the place that they work. As an HR pro' I always reinforced the vision of the company. If they didn't have one, I helped orchestrate it.
Ron, I like you. I'm sure employees do, too. Great approach.
I know this is old and I know this isn't a baseball blog, but I was randomly Googling some of my favorite movie quotes and your blog came up. The Natural is one of my favorites, too.
I'm a Brewers fan, but I have to say – we didn't want them to lose, but nobody in Milwaukee was too angry they lost to the Phillies. We were just thrilled they actually made the playoffs. If they had to get knocked out, it might as well be by another team that hasn't been to the World Series in far too long… and then went on to win it. Congratulations to Philly!
Right, now you may return to your regularly scheduled HR blogging.